Florida basketball takeaways: Gators destroy Jacksonville, Florida A&M as teams improve to 2-0

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Image Credit: UAA

It was never a contest Thursday night in Gainesville, Florida, as the No. 21 Florida Gators ran up and down the floor on their way to a blowout 81-60 victory over the Jacksonville Dolphins. The win, coupled with another earlier in the night from the women’s team, improved both Florida basketball teams to 2-0 on the season with all four wins coming this week.

Let’s take a look at what went down during a doubleheader inside the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.

It was over when … Florida outscored Jacksonville 27-11 over a 12-minute stretch to take as much as a 16-point lead near the end of the first half. The Gators simply overwhelmed the Dolphins with their shooting prowess hitting 64% of their attempts in the opening period with redshirt senior guard Alijah Martin posting a half-high 13 points.

The Gators used an 11-4 scoring stretch to jump ahead by 20 points early in the second half behind stellar play from sophomore forward Alex Condon. They eventually stretched that advantage to a game-high 27 points inside the final few minutes on an exclamation point hammer dunk by senior point guard Walter Clayton Jr.

Exceptional efforts: While Martin did not wind up as the leading scorer, it was his effort to start the game that thrust the Gators well out in front; he also notched 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Condon was nearly unstoppable in the latter period hitting all seven of his shots, including both attempts from downtown and 7 of 12 free throws, for a game- and career-high 23 points. Clayton and senior guard Will Richard combined for 20 points with their scoring largely not needed in the contest. Junior forward Sam Alexis, a transfer from Chattanooga, also contributed 10 points on 4 of 7 shooting with 5 boards.

Odds & ends: Florida improved to 33-5 all-time against JU with a 17-2 mark in the O’Dome … UF has now won 34 straight home openers dating back to 1991 … the Gators led for all but 9 seconds in the game while dominating scoring in the paint (46-32) and on the fastbreak (20-2) with 24 points posted from 18 turnovers … Florida registered 19 assists on 30 baskets but actually got outrebounded 40-35 due to all of Jacksonville’s missed shots

UF is now 32-9 under Golden when leading at halftime, 39-5 when leading with 5 minutes left, 29-6 when shooting 45% or better from the field, 30-9 when shooting the same or better as an opponent from 3-point range and 26-12 when taking more free throws

What it means: Not much. Florida ultimately did what it was supposed to do against a Jacksonville team that could not match up personnel wise. JU was competitive over the first quarter of the game, but once UF upped the intensity, it was basically over. Unlike the season opener in which the Gators fell in love with the long ball early and allowed their opponent to stay in the game, here they rotated regularly leading to consistent production. The competition level will soon increase, but Florida is clearly taking advantage of these earlier opponents as a means of working out the kinks in their play.

What’s next? UF will be back in action Monday against Grambling State in a game that will tip off at 7 p.m. ET and air exclusively on ESPN+. The Gators open power-conference play next Friday.

Ladies’ night: Florida women’s basketball tipped off three hours before its male counterparts pulling off a destructive 102-67 win over the Florida A&M Rattlers. The Gators shot 60% from the field with six players scoring in double digits. Freshman guard Liv McGill, the highest-rated signee in program history, scored a game-high 21 points on 8 of 15 shooting hitting both her 3-pointers and all three of her free throws. She also dished a game-high 5 assists but committed 5 turnovers. Senior center Ra Shaya Kyle as a perfect 7 of 7 for 19 points adding 12 rebounds for her first double-double of the season, though she fouled out in 25 minutes. Overall, Florida hit 50% of its triples, dominated paint scoring 44-26, scored 33 points off 22 turnovers and led wire to wire.

UF will next host Chicago State on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET before opening play against power-conference opponents next Saturday.