NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Walter Clayton Jr. delivered an impressive performance with 22 points, leading No. 4 Florida to a decisive 104-82 victory over No. 5 Alabama in the Southeastern Conference Tournament semifinals on Saturday. The Gators, who now hold a 29-4 record, secured their fifth consecutive win with contributions from Alijah Martin and Will Richard, each adding 16 points to the tally.
The next challenge for Florida is the SEC championship game on Sunday against No. 8 Tennessee. The Volunteers advanced by defeating No. 3 Auburn 70-65 in the earlier semifinal matchup.
The Gators, seeded second, had a narrow lead of 47-45 over Alabama at the half, a period characterized by 10 lead changes. Yet, Clayton and his teammates intensified their efforts in the latter part of the game to secure the victory.
For Alabama, who are third-seeded with a season record of 25-8, Chris Youngblood scored 14 points, while Clifford Omoruyi and Mouhamed Dioubate both contributed 12 points each. Clayton, a senior guard, showcased his shooting prowess by hitting 6 of 11 from beyond the arc and also dished out six assists.
Takeaways from the game highlighted Florida’s defensive capabilities, limiting Arizona’s high-octane offense to 82 points, a team that had previously surpassed 90 points in 18 of their games this season. This strong defensive showing was critical, given Alabama’s ambition of clinching a third SEC tournament title in five years.
A pivotal moment in the game came when Richard scored a crucial 3-pointer with 9:24 left in the game, extending Florida’s lead to 21 points, effectively sealing the game in favor of the Gators.
Statistically, Florida’s dominance in the second half was clear as they outscored the Crimson Tide 57-37 in those final 20 minutes.
The upcoming clash in the SEC title game is shaping up to be a competitive match-up, with Florida and Tennessee having split their regular-season games, each winning at home. Meanwhile, Alabama will await the announcement of its opponent for the NCAA Tournament as they prepare for the next stage of the season.
