FINAL: No. 10 Florida 78, Florida State 76

What Happened

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Sophomore point guard Boogie Fland and junior forward Alex Condon each hit a pair of pressure-packed free throws inside 16 seconds to play that allowed the 10th-ranked Florida Gators to hold off a late rally by Florida State for a 78-76 victory in their rivalry game Tuesday night at sold-out Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center.

Junior forward Thomas Haugh posted a double-double of 20 points and 13 rebounds, as did junior center Rueben Chinyelu with 10 points and a career-best 16 boards. Fland tallied all but four of his season-best 18 points in the second half when UF had to come from down five to claim a fifth straight win the series. The Gators did themselves no favors by making just six of 31 shots from the 3-point line -- a third poor long-distance display in as many games this season -- and turning the ball over 18 times.

Florida trailed by five in the second half, 40-35, with 15 minutes to go when the Gators took off on an 11-0 run, with a couple baskets by Fland, all while the Seminoles were going through a 1-for-11 slump. UF's lead was nine with six minutes to go when the Gators got sloppy with the ball, with Condon (11 points, 6 rebounds) committing three of his six turnovers and allowing the Seminoles cut the lead to one, 71-70, with 1:24 to go.

Gators guard Urban Klavzar hit a 3 to take the margin to four, but it was back to one, 74-73, after a bucket and free throw by FSU point guard Robert McCray V (29 points, 4 assists) bracketed a UF miss. After McCray missed the game-tying free throw, Fland grabbed the rebound and made both free throws with 15.8 seconds to go. On the Seminoles' ensuing possession, McCray missed a 3, Condon was fouled and sank both with 5.7 seconds to go. McCray drained a 3 with a second left to draw the Seminoles within two, but that wrapped the scoring.

**Thomas Haugh** (10) with a first-half dunk Tuesday night. (Photo: **Maddie Washburn**/UAA Communications)

Turning Point

The first came when UF, up nine with under seven minutes to go, turned the ball over five times over the next five minutes and allowed FSU to get back in the game, and made for some frantic final seconds for the home crowd. The second turning point was the pair of clutch free throws by Fland and Condon.

Staggering Statistic

A third consecutive woeful display from the arc has Florida at 21.1% from the arc on the season. Tough to fathom, but that's where the Gators are right now. Back to the gym.

Up Next

Florida (2-1) will play its third high-major opponent in four games -- and second consecutive cross-state rival -- when the Gators take on Miami (3-0) Sunday night in an ESPN-televised matchup from Jacksonville. The Hurricanes have pummeled a trio of in-state low majors (Jacksonville, Bethune-Cookman and Stetson, all at home) to get off to an unbeaten start under new coach and former (short-lived) UF point guard Jai Lucas.

Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu. Find his story archives here.

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