On February 15, 2025, the No. 3-ranked Florida Gators secured their fourth consecutive victory by defeating the South Carolina Gamecocks 88-67 at Exactech Arena in Gainesville, Florida. This win improved Florida’s record to 22-3 overall and 9-3 in Southeastern Conference (SEC) play. citeturn0news12
First Half: A Competitive Start
The game commenced with both teams displaying strong offensive performances. Florida made their first six shots, establishing an early 15-6 lead. However, South Carolina responded with a 17-3 run, taking a 23-18 advantage on a dunk by Collin Murray-Boyles with 10:46 remaining in the first half. The Gamecocks continued to challenge the Gators, holding a 29-28 lead on a basket by Jacobi Wright at the 8:04 mark. Despite these efforts, South Carolina missed their final five shots of the half and committed six turnovers, allowing Florida to regain control and lead 37-33 at halftime. citeturn0news12
Second Half: Florida’s Dominance
The Gators came out strong in the second half, quickly extending their lead. Thomas Haugh opened the scoring with a three-pointer, and Will Richard added a spinning jumper, pushing Florida’s lead to 49-34 with 16:38 remaining. South Carolina’s field goal drought ended at nine minutes when Morris Ugusuk made a three-pointer with 15:44 left. However, Florida’s Denzel Aberdeen responded with two three-pointers in quick succession, extending the lead to 61-40 with 12:24 remaining. The Gators continued to pull away, eventually achieving a trio of 25-point leads to secure the victory. citeturn0news12
Key Performances
Denzel Aberdeen led all scorers with a career-high 22 points, including 13 in the second half. He made 8 of 12 shots, including multiple three-pointers. Thomas Haugh also contributed significantly, adding a career-high 20 points in his third career start, filling in for the injured Alex Condon. Alijah Martin returned from injury to add 11 points, while Walter Clayton Jr. contributed 10 points and eight assists. The Gators’ offense was efficient, shooting 60.4% from the field and making 14 three-pointers. citeturn0news12
South Carolina’s Efforts
South Carolina, now 10-15 overall and 0-12 in SEC play, was led by Jacobi Wright, who scored 13 points. Nick Pringle and Collin Murray-Boyles each added 12 points. Despite a strong start, the Gamecocks struggled to maintain their performance, particularly in the second half, as Florida’s offense surged. citeturn0news12
Looking Ahead
With this victory, Florida continues to solidify its position at the top of the SEC standings. The Gators will look to extend their winning streak as they prepare for upcoming conference matchups. South Carolina, on the other hand, will aim to regroup and seek their first conference win in their next game.
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