LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Walter Clayton Jr contributed significantly to No. 18 Florida’s impressive performance by scoring 19 points, while Alex Condon added 17 points and gathered nine rebounds. The Gators dominated Wichita State, claiming an 88-51 victory in the championship game of the ESPN Events Invitational held at Disney World.

Rueben Chinyelu was instrumental on the defensive end, finishing the game with a double-double that included 14 points and 11 rebounds. The Gators, now 8-0, surged ahead by as much as 48 points during the game, fueled by a remarkable 27-0 run that stretched over the final seven minutes of the first half.

For Wichita State (6-1), Matej Bosnjak emerged as the leading scorer off the bench with 11 points, however, top scorer Justin Hill struggled throughout the match, managing only four points on 2 of 12 shooting.

Notable observations from the game include the fact that Florida has achieved an 8-0 start for the first time since 2009, with all games being won by considerable margins. Meanwhile, Wichita State felt the sting of their first defeat after advancing to the championship with a 68-66 overtime win over Minnesota, and they now hold an 0-3 record against Florida historically.

A key moment occurred when Bosnjak hit two free throws to narrow the gap to 21-18 with just over seven minutes left in the first half. Remarkably, Wichita State did not score again until Bosnjak netted a short jumper over three minutes into the second half. By that point, Florida had extended their advantage to 48-18, marking a run of 27 unanswered points.

In terms of statistics, Florida’s defense set a strong tone early on, showcasing four blocks within the first seven minutes of play. Wichita State struggled offensively, converting only 18.8 percent (6-32) of their shots in the first half and finishing the game at 29.8 percent. Florida also excelled from beyond the arc, hitting 14 three-pointers while limiting the Shockers to just 5 of 22 from long range.

Both teams are scheduled to play again on Wednesday, with Florida set to host Virginia and Wichita State facing Alcorn State at home.