In an exciting basketball showdown in Gainesville, Florida had a standout performance from Will Richard, who nailed six three-pointers and recorded a game-high 25 points. His efforts were pivotal in No. 3 Florida’s 89-70 victory over the 12th-ranked Texas A&M on Saturday evening, marking the Aggies’ fourth straight loss. Adding to Florida’s offense, Thomas Haugh contributed 17 points.
Alijah Martin chipped in with 14 points, helping the Gators recover from a previous defeat against unranked Georgia. This victory propels Florida towards a crucial double bye in the upcoming Southeastern Conference Tournament, happening in two weeks. Florida, now standing at 25-4 with a 12-4 conference record, demonstrated resilience, especially with their home court prowess, improving their home record to a formidable 14-1 this season.
Initially trailing by six points, the Gators quickly found their rhythm, especially from beyond the arc. Richard was especially pronounced in the second-half push, scoring 17 of his total points in the latter half and sinking five three-pointers. One particular three-pointer with under five minutes remaining sealed the Aggies’ fate.
Florida’s long-range shooting was a decisive factor, as the team made 14 of their 33 attempts from three-point territory, outperforming the Aggies in this regard significantly. For Texas A&M, Zhuric Phelps and Pharrel Payne stood out among their teammates, scoring 16 and 14 points, respectively.
Observations from the game indicate that the Aggies struggled in their shooting, missing 10 of their last 12 three-point attempts and squandering nine free throw opportunities. Florida, on the other hand, showed that despite a recent loss, they are in strong contention for a prime seeding in the NCAA Tournament.
A highlight came when Florida’s Alex Condon, undeterred by wearing a mouthpiece for recent dental adjustments, executed back-to-back dunks with around seven minutes to go, bolstering the Gators’ lead. Another significant record was extended by Walter Clayton Jr., who has now made a three-pointer in 51 consecutive games, solidifying his school-record streak.
Looking forward, Texas A&M will host top-ranked Auburn this Tuesday, while Florida prepares for a face-off against No. 6 Alabama on Wednesday.
