Florida defeats St Francis PA 102-61
Florida Dominates St Francis PA in Statement Win
The University of Florida men's basketball team wasted no time making a statement on the court, cruising to a 102-61 victory over visiting St Francis PA at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
With the game out of reach by halftime, the Gators' dominant performance was on full display, as they extended their lead to a staggering 41 points. The final margin was even more impressive, with Florida's largest leads coming in at 46 for the home team and an astonishing 0 for St Francis PA.
Florida's offense was nearly unstoppable, shooting 62.0% from the field and 83.9% from two-point range. Xaivian Lee led the way with 18 points on 2-4 three-point shooting and a perfect 77.8% field goal percentage. Rueben Chinyelu chipped in with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and one steal, while Alex Condon dished out five assists to complement his 14 points.
The Gators' defense also shone, holding St Francis PA to just 40.0% shooting from the field and forcing 16 turnovers. On the other end, Florida committed only 15 turnovers themselves.
Despite being outrebounded 19-43, Florida's superior rebounding margin in the paint (12-8) helped set the tone for the game. The Gators' fast break was also a major factor, with 15 points coming off turnovers and 14 points scored in transition.
For St Francis PA, Skylar Wicks led the way with 22 points on 2-6 three-point shooting and a respectable 40.9% field goal percentage. However, it wasn't enough to overcome the Gators' dominant performance.
The win marks another statement from Florida's team, which is expected to contend for a top seed in the Southeastern Conference come tournament time. With this victory, the Gators demonstrated their ability to handle even the toughest non-conference opponents and will look to build on this momentum as they head into the new year.
Advanced Stats:
* eFG%: Florida (70.7%), St Francis PA (42.1%)
* True Shooting%: Florida (74.4%), St Francis PA (45.0%)
* OREB%: Florida (27.9%), St Francis PA (42.1%)
The Gators' dominant performance was on full display, and this win will be a memorable one for fans in the O'Connell Center.