GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Alijah Martin led the scoring for the No. 5 Florida Gators with 22 points, while Walter Clayton Jr. contributed 19 points in their decisive 84-60 victory over Texas on Saturday. This win allowed the Gators to begin a new home-winning streak.
Just four days after their 16-game winning streak at home was halted by Missouri, the Gators (16-2, 3-2 in the Southeastern Conference) returned to the court with renewed determination and energy, despite ongoing controversies within the program. Assistant coach Taurean Green found himself on the sidelines just two days after facing public allegations of sexual assault. A formal complaint was submitted to the school’s Title IX office, alleging that Green engaged in inappropriate behavior towards an athletic department employee in March of 2024.
These issues came as the university continued investigating a separate Title IX complaint filed against head coach Todd Golden in September, which includes serious accusations of sexual exploitation, harassment, and stalking.
However, the distractions did not seem to impact the Gators during the game against Texas (12-6, 1-4), who were making their first appearance at the O’Connell Center since 1996. Florida demonstrated their offensive prowess by knocking down eight three-pointers and securing eight more rebounds than the Longhorns.
Tre Johnson, the leading scorer in the Southeastern Conference, managed to score 16 points for Texas but shot only 6-of-15 from the floor.
**Takeaways**
For Texas, this season has been particularly challenging as they have faced a formidable schedule, being the only SEC team to encounter three top-five opponents—Auburn, Tennessee, and Florida—so early in the conference play. Meanwhile, Florida initially struggled, missing nine of their first ten shots, but quickly regained their rhythm, thanks to the efforts of Martin and Clayton.
**Key Moment**
A significant turning point in the game occurred when Florida went on a 15-0 scoring run in the first half, establishing a double-digit lead that Texas was unable to contest effectively throughout the remainder of the game.
**Key Stat**
Alex Condon also had a noteworthy performance, recording 11 points and 12 rebounds, marking his third double-double in the past four games.
**Up Next**
Texas will host Missouri on Tuesday night, while Florida is set to take on South Carolina the following day.
