AUSTIN, Texas — The No. 7 Florida Gators extended their winning streak to eight games Wednesday, overcoming a stubborn Texas Longhorns squad 84-71 at the Moody Center. A decisive 14-1 run late in the second half propelled Florida to victory, as the Gators’ size and length proved particularly disruptive to the Longhorns’ offense.
Trailing by three points with 7:27 remaining, Florida surged ahead with a 21-3 run, outscoring Texas 48-32 in the second half. The Longhorns struggled down the stretch, missing their final four field goal attempts and committing five turnovers during that critical span. Florida blocked 11 shots in the second half alone, contributing to a 35.7% shooting percentage for Texas.
Gators forward Alex Condon led all scorers with 23 points, shooting 10-for-12 from the field, and adding four blocks, three assists, and four rebounds. Guard Boogie Fland contributed 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting, one off his season high. Florida shot 65.4% from the field in the second half, including 6-of-9 from three-point range.
Texas, in its first year under head coach Sean Miller, saw junior wing Dailyn Swain lead the way with 21 points, making all seven of his free throws. However, Swain and the rest of the Longhorns struggled against Florida’s size, shooting just 6-of-19 on layups. The Longhorns also finished with only two assists on 25 made field goals.
The first half saw a back-and-forth contest. Texas initially established a lead, capitalizing on early turnovers forced by their defense. A three-pointer by senior guard Jordan Pope and baskets in the paint by center Matas Vokitaitis helped the Longhorns take a 10-6 lead into the first media timeout. Florida responded with two dunks, including one off a turnover forced by Swain, and a three-pointer to even the score.
Texas regained the lead through a floater by junior guard Simeon Wilcher and a mid-range jumper from graduate guard Tramon Mark. A strong defensive possession led to a steal and a breakaway dunk by Swain, extending the Longhorns’ advantage. Consecutive turnovers by Texas threatened to shift the momentum, but Swain’s steal and a late three-pointer by Mark helped maintain their lead. Florida, however, consistently found ways to score near the rim, hitting a three-pointer to stay within striking distance.
A series of fouls and offensive rebounds kept the game close. Vokitaitis drew a shooting foul, and a strong move by sophomore forward Nic Codie resulted in a foul and a trip to the free-throw line. A controversial goaltending call and missed shots by Texas allowed Florida to tie the game at 36-36 with 1:20 remaining in the half, prompting a timeout by Miller. Swain drove for a layup, and Vokitaitis earned a trip to the free-throw line, but Texas ultimately took a 39-36 lead into halftime, despite shooting 50% from the field.
Florida opened the second half with a quick three-pointer, followed by a layup and another layup to take the lead. Texas responded with free throws and a layup by Codie, but Florida continued to attack the basket, forcing a timeout by Miller. Swain’s ability to drive to the rim and convert three-point plays kept the Longhorns in contention, but Florida’s length continued to disrupt their offense. A series of blocked shots and turnovers led to fast-break opportunities for the Gators, extending their lead.
As Florida extended its lead, Texas struggled to find offensive rhythm. A bad turnover by Vokitaitis led to a missed dunk by Florida, but the Gators secured the loose ball and scored. Fland’s three-pointer and a subsequent turnover by Pope further solidified Florida’s advantage. The Longhorns finished the game without making another field goal, as Florida cruised to the 84-71 victory.
Texas will travel to College Station to face the Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday at 3 p.m. Central on ESPN2.
