Florida extends home opener streak with 31-point rout of Jacksonville
Rueben Chinyelu scored a career-high 21 points as the Gators outrebounded the Dolphins by 27.
By Wyatt Cooper ·
Men's college basketball season in the Southeastern Conference has already produced a clear hierarchy of talent on the glass and in the paint. No. 1 Florida demonstrated this depth on Thursday night in Gainesville, Fla., defeating Jacksonville 88-57 to extend its streak of winning home openers to 36 consecutive seasons.
The Gators entered the contest with a perfect 2-0 record after an early season start that included a strong offensive performance. Jacksonville, which had dropped its previous game, improved to 1-1 but could not match the physicality of the home squad. The decisive factor was Florida's dominance in the rebounding category, where they outboarded the Dolphins by 27 possessions.
Rueben Chinyelu led the effort with a career-high 21 points and eight rebounds. Thomas Haugh contributed 14 points and seven rebounds, while Denzel Aberdeen and Urban Klavzar each scored 12. Five different Florida players finished with double-digit scoring. Alex Condon posted a near triple-double with 12 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists.
The game was effectively decided during a 19-2 run in the second half. That spurt erased a five-point deficit and established a comfortable margin for the Gators. Condon had seven points, eight rebounds, and seven assists at halftime, placing him within reach of joining a small group of Florida players to record triple-doubles in the past 30 seasons.
Coach Todd Golden limited Condon to just eight minutes of play in the second half, turning to his bench to manage the final stretch. The Gators shot efficiently from distance, hitting 11 three-pointers for the second straight game. This marks a shift from the previous season when they struggled with perimeter shooting.
For Jacksonville, Hayden Wood led the team with 11 points. James Morrow added nine points but was assessed two flagrant fouls while defending the Gators' frontcourt. Florida travels to Florida State for a matchup on Tuesday night. Jacksonville hosts Kansas City on Monday night.
