What Happened
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Guards Alijah Martin and Walter Clayton Jr. combined for 41 points, while forward Alex Condon had a double-double to lead fifth-ranked Florida to an 84-60 whipping of Texas in their Southeastern Conference game Saturday at Exactech Arena/O’Connell Center.
Martin, the transfer from Florida Atlantic, scored 13 of his game-high 22 points in the second half when UF turned a seven-point lead at the break into a blowout by shooting 58 percent for the period and defending the Longhorns at 37 percent and forcing eight turnovers. He also pitched in six rebounds and four assists over his 29 minutes, Clayton had 12 points in the first half on the way to finishing with 19, while Condon bounced back from a scoreless opening period to tally 11 points and 12 rebounds (his fourth double-double of the season, third in last four games) to go with four steals and three assists.
For the Gators, the game was a strong response from Tuesday night’s disappointing home loss against Missouri that snapped a 16-game winning streak at the O’Dome that dated to January 2024.
The Longhorns had an early six-point lead, mostly because of freshman guard, SEC scoring leader and projected 2025 NBA lottery pick Tre Johnson (16 points), before Martin and Clayton sparked a 13-point run to take a 28-18 lead while UT was missing six straight shots and going five minutes without scoring. UF led 37-30 at halftime, with UT remaining in striking distance for a good chunk of the second half. The Longhorns were within seven, 61-54, with eight to go before a 14-2 flurry for the home team, including a 3 by Clayton to start it and another from Martin, opened an 18-point margin with less than four minutes to go.
Texas came into the game averaging 81.6 points, 49.7 percent from the floor and shooting 38.1 percent from distance, but was held nearly 22 points below the former, 36.4 for the game and just four of 16 from deep. More than a fourth of their points coming at the free-throw line.
What it Means
Now, that’s more like it. More like the team that captured Gator Nation’s imagination until hitting that pothole Tuesday night. The Longhorns, at least for now, may not be an upper-half SEC team (or a Quadrant 1 opponent), but this game was about Florida and its identity, especially at home. The Gators answered the challenge.
In the Spotlight
Against Mizzou four nights earlier, Martin didn’t look like the player he’d been through the team’s first 16 games. He did in Game 18.
Staggering Statistic
UF figured to have an advantage inside against the perimeter-oriented Longhorns. Sure enough, the Gators outscored UT 44-20 in the paint.
Up Next
Florida (16-2, 3-2), after two home games, is back on the road Tuesday night to face South Carolina (10-8, 0-5). The Gamecocks were smashed 82-62 at Oklahoma Saturday to remain winless in league play. USC is one of UF’s permanent home-and-home opponents, with a return visit to Gainesville set for Feb. 15.
Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu
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