FINAL: No. 21 Florida 93, Southern Illinois 68

What Happened

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Guard Alijah Martin scored 32 points, including 18 in the first half, as 21st-ranked Florida remained unbeaten with a 93-68 victory Friday night over Southern Illinois at Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center.

Martin, the fifth-year transfer from Florida Atlantic, hit 11 of his 19 field-goal attempts and eight of 13 from the 3-point line, grabbed nine rebounds, dished five assists and had a couple steals. In the first half alone, his stat line showed six of 11 shooting, 4-for-7 from deep, six rebounds and two assists over 18 minutes. In the second half, he bombed four consecutive 3s at one point. When he was done, Martin finished two points shy of his career high of 34, but his eight 3-balls tied Jason Williams (vs. Auburn in 1998) and KeVaughn Allen (vs. Texas A&M in 2019) for most made 3s in a game at the O'Dome.

Sophomore forward Thomas Haugh came off the bench to post a career-high 19 points and grab seven rebounds. He made six of 10 from the floor, matched his career-best with three 3s and also had three assists and four blocks. Haugh was the only other UF player besides Martin to score in double figures.

The Gators shot 46.7 percent for the game, including 16 of 39 from the 3-point line (41.0 percent). They had 25 assists and only six turnovers. The Salukis were limited to 34.7 percent overall and 33.3 from deep (5 of 15), but out-rebounded the home team 49-46 (20-16 on the offensive end) despite a significant size disadvantage.

UF was flailing offensively in the first half, leading by just four, 19-15, and shooting 29 percent (23 from 3) after 12 minutes when senior guard Will Richard grabbed a loose ball at UF's end, drove to the basket, put the ball in and was fouled. Richard missed the ensuing free throw, but his basket started a run of 16 straight points, including seven straight from Martin, that put the Gators up 20 with five minutes to go. With a minute left, the UF lead was 27, thanks to three more 3s, but the Salukis scored the period's last six points and trailed 46-25 at the break.

The SIU run bridged into the second half and stretched to 11-0, but UF settled in and Martin took over by bombing four consecutive 3s over barely three minutes to help open a 30-point lead.

Sophomore forward **Alex Condon** (21) goes up for a first-half bucket Friday night at the O'Dome.

What it Means

The Gators got out of the soft portion of their non-conference slate unblemished -- UF has won its first six games of a season for the 11th time in program history and just the second time of the post-Billy Donovan era -- and now head into the meat of the pre-Southeastern Conference schedule next week. Read on.

In the Spotlight

Martin was quite the portal pull by Coach Todd Golden and company.

Staggering Statistic

UF's 39 attempts from distance tied the program's single-game record. The Gators last shot 39 from long range in a 99-66 win over Duquense on Dec. 3, 1997.

Up Next

Florida (6-0) is off until Thanksgiving Day, when the Gators will be Kissimmee, Fla., to face Wake Forest (5-1) in first-round play of the ESPN Events Invitational at Wide World of Sports. Depending on the outcome, UF will face either Minnesota (4-1) or Wichita State (4-0) in the second game on Black Friday.

Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu

Gators Calendar