GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The postgame conversation opened with a question aimed at Will Richard about his emotional walk to the bench during the final moments of Saturday’s 90–71 win over Ole Miss—his last appearance on Florida’s home court.
"I seen that too," Walter Clayton Jr. joked with a smile.
Richard quickly corrected him.
"He's talking about you!" Richard replied.
And he was right. The mix-up was cleared up shortly after.
"I didn't shed no tears," Clayton said. "But emotions were high, obviously."
Those emotions matched the intensity of Florida’s performance, particularly after halftime. Clayton, known for his aggressive scoring style, delivered a memorable showing on his “Senior Night,” leading the fifth-ranked Gators alongside his fellow seniors. He posted a game-best 23 points, knocked down five shots from beyond the arc, and added five rebounds and eight assists, helping UF secure its third consecutive victory and its ninth win in the last 10 outings. Fifth-year guard Alijah Martin contributed 13 points, five rebounds, and three steals, while Richard chipped in 10 points as all three seniors enjoyed a spirited celebration heading into postseason play.
Although the night spotlighted the senior trio, they were more than willing to share the moment with their teammates.
Senior Night (from left): Alijah Martin, Coach Todd Golden, Will Richard and Walter Clayton Jr.
"[The seniors have] been pivotal to my development," said sophomore forward Alex Condon, who followed up his 27-point, 10-rebound outing in the upset over seventh-ranked Alabama by contributing 17 points and 15 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double and seventh of the season. "They played a large role last year, cussing me out [as a freshman] at the right times and not holding back. They're awesome leaders and crucial to this team's success. They're great friends, too. I love these boys."
The O'Dome was filled with appreciation Saturday as fans watched a well-rounded effort from a team delivering a season that ranks among the program’s most memorable. UF shot 49.2 percent overall with 19 assists, knocked down 14 three-pointers, held a 48–36 edge on the boards, limited Ole Miss to 33.3 percent shooting, and was behind for only 47 seconds—though it wasn’t until an early second-half surge that the Gators fully took control.
"It's exciting times," Condon said. "I think we're playing really good basketball."
With the 2024–25 Gators (27–4, 14–4) securing the second-highest regular-season win total in the program’s 118-year history—behind only the 2013–14 team—they also posted their most Southeastern Conference victories in eight seasons. Entering the postseason, they are tied with No. 1 Auburn for the second-most wins among high-major programs, trailing only No. 2 Duke’s 28 victories.
"As we just talked about with our players in the locker room, I want them to be very proud of the effort and the success that we've had to this point," UF coach Todd Golden said. "But we have a lot of work left to do and a lot of things left to still accomplish."
Florida’s postseason run will begin Friday night, as the team’s second-place SEC finish gives them a two-day bye into the conference tournament quarterfinals in Nashville, Tenn. Their performance there may influence their NCAA Tournament seeding the following week.
Still, expectations are already high.
"They should be a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament," Mississippi coach Chris Beard said.
Alex Condon (21) slams two of his 17 points on the way to a second straight double-double.
The Gators displayed strong shooting and defense against the Rebels (21–10, 10–8), a team likely to land a No. 5 or 6 NCAA seed and coming off a victory over fourth-ranked Tennessee. UF hit 50 percent in the first half, including seven 3-pointers, while limiting Ole Miss to just under 31 percent, yet led only 38–31 due to nine first-half turnovers.
Ole Miss guard Sean Pedulla scored 22 points and opened the second half with a 3-pointer. Condon responded with a layup, but Matthew Murrell drained another 3, cutting Florida’s lead to 40–37.
The home team then went on a 14–0 run. Clayton scored the first five points, followed by two free throws from Martin, a low-post basket from Condon, and another bucket from Martin. Rebels coach Chris Beard called a timeout as his team missed five straight shots, but Florida extended its lead immediately after the stoppage when Richard hit a 3-pointer to make it 54–37.
After Ole Miss narrowed the gap to 14, Clayton knocked down two transition 3s around a single Ole Miss 2-pointer. He finished nine of 17 from the floor, marking his fifth game this season with at least five 3-pointers. Condon was 6-for-7 overall, including two of three from long range, while also grabbing five offensive rebounds and dishing out three assists.
"We picked it up," Golden said. "And, obviously, Walt had a stretch there where he was unguardable and really kind of took the top off the defense. Once we were able to get out to that run, we felt pretty good about it the rest of the way."
With a 22-point lead and three minutes remaining, the only thing left was to celebrate the senior trio: Richard, the Belmont transfer and first portal player to join Golden’s staff in 2022; Clayton, the Bartow (Fla.) High product who went un-recruited by the state’s big schools, played two years at Iona, and returned home to nearly achieve All-America recognition; and Martin, the Florida Atlantic defensive standout and Final Four participant who chose to play his final season in the SEC.
What a group. What a season.
"Florida welcomed me with open arms and allowed me to be myself these last two years," Clayton said.
Will Richard walks off the O'Dome floor for the last time.
Together, the trio helped Florida achieve more wins than all but one team in program history and posted a 15–1 record at home, with victories coming by an average of 23.5 points. In doing so, they fulfilled exactly what the UF coaches had envisioned when recruiting each of them.
"The history and the coaching staff's desire to win," Richard said when asked why he chose Florida three years ago. "I came here to win, too. Knowing all the great players who came before us, you want to get the program back to that national relevance. It's been great -- the journey -- to get it back there."
Now comes the most exciting, challenging, and likely most emotional chapter of their season.
Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu
