FINAL: Florida 86, Grambling State 62

What Happened

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Sophomore center Rueben Chinyelu scored 14 points to lead a balanced scoring attack and 20th-ranked Florida made mostly easy work of Grambling State in an 86-62 victory Monday night at Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center. All eight of the Gators' main rotational players scored at least eight points, with five finishing in double figures.

Chinyelu, the 6-foot-10 1/2 transfer from Washington State, hit seven of his eight field-goal attempts to equal his career scoring high. Senior guards Walter Clayton Jr. and Will Richard, along with reserve forward Sam Alexis each added a dozen points each. Richard added five steals and Alexis six rebounds. Sophomore forward Alex Condon had 10 points a team-high eight boards, with backup sophomore forward Thomas Haugh good for nine points and seven rebounds.

Guard Alijah Martin, the fifth-year transfer from Florida Atlantic, had nine points, seven rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals. Backup point guard Denzel Aberdeen had eight points, four rebounds and the highlight of the night on a wicked first-half slam in transition.

UF shot 45.3 percent for the game, but had another rough night from the 3-point line, making only seven of 23, The Gators were much better rebounding the basketball than their first two games, nearly doubling up the Tigers 45-24, with a 17-5 edge om the offensive end.

Grambling scored the game's first basket, with Florida scoring the next three and never trailing the rest of the way. UF shot 44 percent in the first period, including five of 13 from the 3-point line, while defending the Tigers at 39 percent and surrendering just two 3s. The difference was on the glass, where the Gators had a 25-10 advantage at the break, with a 9-1 edge on the offensive end and 12-0 advantage in second-chance points.

The lead was 12 three minutes into the second half when the Gators used a 9-0 run, with a 3-pointer by Clayton to surge in front by 21. Despite a 1-for-9 drought that had UF at just 24 percent in the second half, the home ended up shooting nearly 47 percent after intermission.

Grambling, which returned three starters from the first NCAA Tournament team in program history and Friday gave 25th-ranked Ole Miss a tough game before losing 66-64, was led by point guard Kintavious Dozier, who topped all scorers with 19 points.

Gators junior guard **Denzel Aberdeen** skies for a first-half slam-dunk against the Tigers.

What It Means the Spotlight

The Gators have opened a season with three wins for the first time since 2021-22 campaign.

In the Spotlight

Chinyelu needed a game like this one, after totaling just eight points in his first two games.

Staggering Statistic

The Gators finished with a 15-5 advantage on the offensive glass -- after losing that statistical battle in their first two games -- and won the second-chance points battle 18-2.

Up Next

Florida (3-0) plays its first true road game of the season when the Gators head to Tallahassee for the annual rivalry game against Florida State (2-0). UF has won three straight in the series after losing seven in a row from 2014-20. The Seminoles, already with wins over Northern Kentucky and Rice, face Tarleton State at home Tuesday.

Email Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu

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