AUSTIN, Texas – The points of emphasis on the scout were addressed repeatedly. For the Florida Gators, one of the best defensive teams in the nation, there was no misunderstanding what it was going to take to slow down the Texas Longhorns, one of the best offenses in the country.
And yet there the Gators were, down three at halftime, having allowed the home team to shoot 50% from the floor, rain in four 3-pointers and even outwork them on the glass.
"Defense was the emphasis for the game," UF junior forward Alex Condon said. "We knew they had a really good offense and they run good stuff, but we didn't come out with the right mentality. We let them get a few back doors and a couple wide-open dunks."
At intermission, UF coach Todd Golden revisited the game plan as only he can. As in colorfully.
"They just outplayed us in the first half," Golden said of UT's talented one-on-one scorers having their way with downhill drives and jumpers. "We obviously challenged our guys pretty strongly about guarding your yard and doing a better job on the defensive end. Obviously, that flipped for us."
And, in turn, for the other guys.
Out of the locker room, the Gators unfolded some of their best team defense of the season and eventually dropped a late, soul-crushing hammer on the Horns in an 84-71 victory at Moody Center. Condon led all scorers with 23 points on 10-for-12 from the field, but also blocked four of the team's season-high 11 shots, had three assists, no turnovers and posted a plus-21 on-floor score. Guard Boogie Fland checked in with a season-high 22 points, dropping seven of 10 shots, with a couple 3s and steals. Together, they combined to hit 17 of 22 field goals and paired nicely with guard Xaivian Lee's 12 points and six assists.
Xaivian Lee (1) harasses UT's Camden Heide (5), while Rueben Chineylu (9) does his thing in the low post andIsaiah Brownlocks (20) too.
It all led to the team's fourth consecutive double-digit road victory, even with leading scorer Thomas Haugh and leading rebounder Rueben Chinyelu combining for just 10 points and four rebounds. Their teammates picked them up.
The Gators (22-6, 13-2) shot a SEC season-best 59% for the game, including 8-for-18 from the 3-point arc (44.4%), but it was what they did at the other end in the second half that sewed up an eighth consecutive victory, a seventh straight on the road, and moved UF – with its two-game lead atop the league standings with three to go – closer to clinching the program's first Southeastern Conference regular-season championship since 2014.
"I thought we did a great job being resilient," Golden said.
And resounding in their response, especially on defense. Texas (17-11, 8-7) came into the game ranked No. 6 in the nation in offensive efficiency. Florida brought the No. 4 defense. When the final horn sounded, the Gators had reduced the Longhorns' shooting to just 35.7% in the second half, allowed just one 3-point make and – get this – held the home team to just two assists and without a field goal the last 7:27 of the game.
"You have to give credit where credit is due: We lost to a championship team tonight," said Texas coach Sean Miller, who got 21 points from guard Dailyn Swain and 15 from guard Tramon Mark, but needed a lot more. "They've really settled in the last month or so of the season and are playing, really, as well as any team in the country."
UF forward Alex Condon (21) was a 23-point problem (on 10-for-12 from the floor) for the Longhorns Wednesday night.
UT started by making nine of its first 13 shots and led by eight, 20-12, nine minutes into the game. The Longhorns were making it look easy.
Not that the Gators were shooting blanks. UF, with some nice off-the-bench minutes from guard Isaiah Brown (9 points, career-high 8 rebounds), slowly worked the margin back, even taking a one-point lead, 28-27, before the Longhorns jumped back in front for a 39-36 advantage at the break.
Cue the locker room lecture. No one panicked.
"We knew it was going to be a game of runs," Fland said. "We knew they're a good offensive team. We just had to settle in and chip away at it."
The response was immediate, with the Gators scoring six of the first seven second-half points to move in front. The score was tied at 51 inside 12 minutes when 3s by Lee and Urban Klavzar (8 points) had UF in front by six inside 10 minutes to go.
Then came a 7-0 run by the Longhorns to surge in front 64-61, with the building rocking. It was about that time that the massive arena video boards flashed a message.
"WE'RE BUILT FOR THIS."
Well, one of the teams was.
From there, the Gators finished the game on a 23-7 avalanche of shots, steals and dunks that included makes on six of their last eight shots versus the Longhorns going 0-for-4 with five turnovers.
UF center Micah Handlogten (3) challenges a Texas drive at the rim.
It started when Condon made one of two free throws. Then came a lob slam from Condon to Haugh that tied the game. Then two Fland free throws, and back-to-back buckets from Condon for a 9-0 run and six-point lead.
After UT 7-foot center Matas Vokietaitis (12 points, 7 rebounds) made one of two free throws, Fland dropped a pair of his own, then his second 3-pointer of the game (his fifth in the last two games).
"When our guards are banging shots like that, we're going to be really tough to beat," Golden said after watching his team nail six of its nine 3-balls in the second half. "It allowed us to run away from them down the stretch."
When Lee drained another 3 just over a minute later – to give the team a second straight game of plus-40% from deep, as well as a fourth in the last five of 35% or better – the Gators were up by double digits and the Texas fans were headed for the doors.
"Credit to the boys for getting it done in the second half," said Condon, who has averaged 22.3 points on 72% shooting the last three games. "I've found a rhythm these last few games. My teammates are getting me the ball and trusting me to make the right plays."
There's a lot going right for the Gators these days. At the right time, too.
