FINAL: Florida 89, Georgia 59

What Happened

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Fifth-year guard Alijah Martin and senior point guard Walter Clayton Jr. scored 17 points each to pace five Florida players into double-figure scoring, as fifth-ranked Florida clubbed Georgia early and often on the way to an 89-59 victory in their Southeastern Conference game Saturday at sold-out Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center.

Martin was 7-for-11 from the floor with four steals and scored all 17 of his points during the first half, when the Gators shot 67 percent overall, went seven of 14 from the 3-point line and took advantage of the Bulldogs' 14 turnovers with a flurry of transition opportunities (24 points off turnovers, in fact) to build a 25-point lead at the break. Clayton, with a couple 3s to run his school-record consecutive streak with at least one to 43, added five assists and five steals. Senior guard Will Richard had 16 points and four 3-pointers, sophomore forward Alex Condon had 14 points, eight rebounds and did nice defensive work against UGA forward and NBA lottery pick-in-waiting Asa Newell, who was 4-for-14 from the floor, 0-for-5 from deep for eight points and six rebounds. UF sophomore backup forward Thomas Haugh came off the bench for 13 points and 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the season.

The only time UF trailed was after point guard Silas Demary Jr. hit a 3 to start the game. The Gators' first big run of the period netted 11 straight points for a 25-11 lead, with nearly half coming off UGA turnovers. A pair of Clayton free throws took the lead to 20 inside five minutes to go. It swelled to 27 late in the period, courtesy of 14 UGA turnovers that led to 24 of the home team's points.

The Bulldogs, with eight straight points early in the second half, got the margin down to 19, but the Gators answered with a 12-1 spurt, including three consecutive drives and finishes in traffic by Clayton. The lead got as large as 34 with inside nine minutes to play.

UF fifth-year guard Alijah Martin (15) nails a 3-ball during the Gators sizzling first half Saturday at the O'Dome.

What it Means

That's 12 consecutive victories over Georgia, dating to the 2020 season. That equals the second-longest streak against a SEC opponent (UF defeated Mississippi State 12 in a row during the 1980s) and is two games shy of the 14 straight defeats the Gators handed Tennessee during the 1990s. The game was a Quadrant-1 opportunity at tip-off, as the Bulldogs came at No. 30 in the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) ratings, but they're likely to slip a couple spots. UF coach Todd Golden improved to 6-0 against former Gators coach Mike White, whose team, after entering the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time in 16 years two weeks ago, has lost four straight.

In the Spotlight

The entire UF team. This was an outstanding, across-the-board response following that slugfest and comeback win Wednesday night at South Carolina.

Staggering Statistic

The 30-point margin was the largest for the Gators in the series since beating the Bulldogs by 33 on Jan. 9, 2013. UF won that one 77-44 at home on the way to winning the regular-season SEC title.

Up Next

Florida (18-2, 5-2) has its mid-week bye. The Gators will get a couple days of to rest up, then resume practice and working toward next Saturday's rematch at Tennessee, currently ranked No. 6. The Volunteers were ranked No. 1 when they were smashed 73-43 in their Jan. 7 visit to the O'Dome. UT has a huge showdown later Saturday at No. 1-ranked Auburn, a game that will either shake up the top of the SEC standings or further distance the Tigers, unbeaten in the league, from the pack.

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

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