Florida Gators

What Happened

AUBURN, Ala.  – Florida senior guard Walter Clayton Jr. scored 19 points, equaled his career-high of nine assists and played all 40 minutes Saturday, packing five UF players into double-figure scoring and leading sixth-ranked and undermanned Florida to a stunning 90-81 upset of top-ranked and Southeastern Conference rival Auburn Saturday at sold-out Neville Arena, giving the Gators the program's first road win over a No. 1 team in school history.  

Clayton, minus his fifth-year sidekick and second-leading scorer Alijah Martin (hip injury), hit four 3-pointers and ran an offense that shot 48.4 percent for the game, went 13 of 33 from distance (39.4 percent), totaled a SEC-high 22 assists and converted 15 of 18 free throws in one of the most hostile venues in the nation. Clayton's first make of the game, a 3-ball, pushed him over 1,000 career points as a Gator, making him the 57th player to eclipse the milestone.

Sophomore forward Alex Condon had a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds, plus four assists. Backup forward Thomas Haugh had 14 points, nine rebounds and a flurry of hustle plays that defined the team on this historic day. Senior guard Will Richard had 15 points and five rebounds, while junior guard Denzel Aberdeen, making the second start of his career (and second in as many games), had 10 points in replacing Martin, including a couple huge 3-point makes in the second half when the Tigers were trying to mount a comeback. 

Auburn got out fast, with leads of 15-5 and 20-11, the latter nine minutes in after hitting eight of its first 14 shots. The Gators, who started just 2-for-11, set their feet and commenced a comeback. They hit five straight shots, two of them 3s, to take their first lead at 23-22. After Auburn jumped back in front by six, UF used another run of five consecutive makes to retake the lead and finish the half on a 23-7 run for a 48-38 halftime advantage. Clayton had 16 points at the break on five of six shooting, with three 3s. 

Less than five minutes into the second half, the UF lead was 19 and Auburn managed to get it to nine with seven minutes left, but a 3 by Aberdeen on a three-shot possession started an 8-2 mini-run that helped build the margin back to 15 with four minutes left. 

UF held Auburn, the No. 1-rated offense in the country, to 42.9 percent from the floor, only seven of 22 from distance, while holding 2025 NCAA Player of the Year favorite Johni Broom to eight of 19 from the floor. Broome had 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists.  

What it Means

Simply put, the best road win of the college basketball season -- by any team in the country -- and one of the biggest in UF basketball history. The Tigers not only were ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press poll, but topped the nation in metrics as well, namely the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) and KenPom.com. The Gators began the day at No. 5 in the NET, but likely will move up courtesy of this fifth Quadrant 1 win against an opponent already with 12 just two-thirds of the way through the season. 

In the Spotlight

Doing this without Martin? What a statement about this team.  

Staggering Statistic

UF was 0-8 all-time facing No. 1 on the road. Earlier this year, the Gators were winless all-time at home against No. 1 teams before waxing Tennessee by 30. 

Up Next

Florida (20-3, 7-3) is back on the road for the second straight game -- and third of four, all against ranked teams -- with a Tuesday night date at No. 22 Mississippi State (16-6, 4-5). The Bulldogs, who play at Georgia Saturday night, have a familiar face in their lineup. His name is Riley Kugel, who played at UF during his freshman and sophomore season before transferring last spring. Auburn (22-2, 9-1) plays Tuesday at Vanderbilt.  

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