No. 1 Florida Dominates Jacksonville 88-57 Behind Career Night From Rueben Chinyelu

Florida’s Rueben Chinyelu Scores Twenty One Points

No. 1 Florida continued its impressive start to the college basketball season Thursday night, cruising past Jacksonville 88-57 behind a career high 21 points from Rueben Chinyelu. Alex Condon flirted with a triple double, finishing with 12 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists as the Gators extended their remarkable home opening winning streak to 36 consecutive seasons.

Florida (2-0) had five players score in double figures while controlling the game on both ends of the floor. Thomas Haugh contributed 14 points and seven rebounds, while Denzel Aberdeen and Urban Klavzar added 12 points apiece. Chinyelu also grabbed eight rebounds as the Gators dominated the glass, outrebounding Jacksonville (1-1) by 27.

Florida’s First Half Run Turns Game Into a Blowout

Jacksonville kept the contest competitive early, but Florida closed the first half with a decisive 19-2 run that transformed a five point advantage into a commanding lead. Haugh and Aberdeen knocked down 3 pointers during the stretch, while Condon and Chinyelu energized the crowd with dunks.

Condon was particularly effective in the opening half, recording seven points, eight rebounds and seven assists before halftime. His all around performance put him within reach of becoming the latest Gator to record a triple double.

Only four Florida players have recorded triple-doubles over the last 30 seasons: Corey Brewer in 2005, Nick Calathes in 2008 and 2009, and Chris Chiozza in 2017. However, Condon played just eight minutes after halftime as head coach Todd Golden began rotating his bench with the game firmly under control.

Chinyelu Leads Balanced Florida Scoring Attack

Chinyelu delivered the best scoring performance of his career, finishing with 21 points while providing a strong presence in the paint. His production helped Florida maintain its offensive rhythm throughout the night.

The Gators also continued to show improvement from beyond the arc. After struggling with 3-point shooting early last season, Florida has connected on 11 three pointers in each of its first two games this season, giving the defending national powerhouse another dimension offensively.

Jacksonville struggled to keep pace with Florida’s size and depth. Hayden Wood led the Dolphins with 11 points, while James Morrow added nine. Morrow was also called for two flagrant fouls while attempting to defend Condon and Chinyelu. Florida’s rebounding advantage and balanced scoring ultimately proved too much for Jacksonville to overcome as the Gators cruised to their second victory of the season.

Up Coming College Basketball Games

Jacksonville will look to bounce back Monday night when it hosts Kansas City. Florida faces a quick turnaround, traveling to Tallahassee to take on rival Florida State on Tuesday night. The matchup will provide another opportunity for the top ranked Gators to build momentum as they continue their early-season schedule.