Gators Flex Depth, Dominance In Sweet 16 Win

SAN FRANCISCO – The Florida Gators are marching into the Elite Eight for the 10th time in program history and first since 2017 following an 87-71 Sweet 16 win against four seed Maryland.

Behind a balanced attack, stifling rebounding and explosive second-half runs, the top-seeded Gators  (33-4) continued their March run —now riding a nine-game win streak and sitting just one victory away from the Final Four.

It wasn’t just one hero for Florida — it was six. Will Richard led the charge with 15 points, while Alijah Martin (14), Walter Clayton Jr. (13), Thomas Haugh (13), Denzel Aberdeen (12) and Rueben Chinyelu (10) all scored in double figures. The performance marked only the second time in Florida’s NCAA Tournament history that six players cracked double digits, the last time coming in 2007 during the team’s national title run.

Florida opened the game Thursday on an 11-0 run, but Maryland clawed back to make it 40-38 at the half. Out of the break, the Gators pounced with a 12-4 burst and never looked back. A game-sealing 13-2 run midway through the second half ballooned Florida’s lead to 18 with 7:09 to play — ending any hopes of a Terrapin comeback. Aberdeen credits the team’s depth for the victory.

The Gators didn’t just win — they imposed their will inside. Florida crushed Maryland on the boards with a 42-20 advantage, including 15 offensive rebounds that led to a 21-9 edge in second-chance points. Haugh led the way with nine boards, while Chinyelu added eight. It was a gritty, physical showing that coach Todd Golden called “elite” in the second half.

Clayton Continues Postseason Brilliance

Though he finished with a modest 13 points, All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr. continued his stellar postseason. In six tournament games spanning the SEC and NCAA Tournaments, the junior guard is averaging 20.2 points per contest and shooting nearly 50% from beyond the arc (24 of 49). He also extended his streak to 59 straight games with a made 3-pointer and is now averaging 23.0 points in NCAA Tournament games as a Gator.

Clayton’s consistency and leadership have been vital. With 200 career 3s, he joins elite company as just the second Florida player to hit 200 triples in a two-season span in joining sharpshooter Lee Humphrey.

Historic Season for Gators on All Fronts

The win against Maryland (27-9) marked Florida’s program-record ninth victory against a top-25 opponent this season — seven of those coming against top-12 teams. Six of those top-25 wins have come in March alone, a feat never before achieved by the program in a single month.

Florida’s offensive production has also reached historic levels. The team’s 3,163 total points this season rank second in program history, while the 367 made 3-pointers set a single-season record, breaking the previous mark of 357 in 2011-12.

Additionally, the trio of Clayton, Martin and Richard have each eclipsed 500 points on the year, marking the second straight season Florida has had three players hit that milestone.

What’s Next: Elite Eight Showdown with Texas Tech

The Gators will now face No. 3 seed Texas Tech (28-8) in the Elite Eight at 6:09 p.m. ET Saturday (TBS, 103.7-FM) at the Chase Center. Though an SEC showdown with Arkansas seemed imminent for much of the night Thursday, a late Texas Tech comeback flipped the script, setting up a battle of offensive powerhouses.

Florida is 2-1 all-time against the Red Raiders, but the last meeting — an agonizing 69-66 loss in the 2018 NCAA Tournament — still lingers. This time, the Gators enter as the top seed in the West Region, with their sights set firmly on their first Final Four appearance in more than a decade.

With a red-hot offense, stifling rebounding, and a roster firing on all cylinders, Florida looks every bit the contender. Now, just 40 minutes stand between the Gators and a return to college basketball’s biggest stage.