RALEIGH, N.C. — In a commanding display of skill, first-team All-American Walter Clayton Jr. led Florida to triumph with 23 points, defeating Norfolk State 95-69 on Friday. With this victory, all four No. 1 seeds safely advanced past the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Alijah Martin contributed 17 points for the Southeastern Conference champions, as the team established a 32-point advantage in the first half, securing their seventh consecutive win. This result sets up a potential second-round clash against two-time defending national champion UConn, assuming the No. 8 seed Huskies overcome ninth-seeded Oklahoma.
For the 16th-seeded Norfolk State Spartans (24-11), Christian Ings achieved 16 points while Jaylani Darden added 15. The Gators (31-4) quickly took control of the game, with Clayton achieving a remarkable four-point play by scoring a 3-pointer and drawing a foul. This pivotal moment solidified a double-digit lead for Florida within the opening five minutes, a lead they maintained throughout the matchup.
The score widened to 53-21 just four minutes before halftime, despite Clayton spending some time on the bench. Although Norfolk State ended the first half with an impressive 11-0 run, spurred on by Ings, they never managed to significantly close the gap.
In terms of takeaways, Norfolk State’s head coach Robert Jones expressed frustration a day earlier regarding being a significant 28 1/2-point underdog. However, his team did manage to outscore Florida in the game’s final 23 minutes, managing to keep the score within the point spread.
For Florida, early precision was key, as the Gators successfully secured 18 of their initial 30 shots, effectively stifling any chance of an upset and overpowering a smaller, less experienced Norfolk State.