Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center | Gainesville, Fla.
Box Score<https://floridagators.com/documents/2024/11/22/2024.11.22_Florida_vs._Southern_Illinois.PDF> | Season Stats<https://floridagators.com/documents/2024/11/15/2024-25_UFstats.pdf> | Courtesy Photos & Press Conferences<https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/rb8ojhaf9ygpi6d0k3c9e/ANF6-ow4Wppu1j1zjAsnMXA?rlkey=g1esu5ww8r31yd8dyekcik5iw&st=3b1ht5u5&dl=0>
Records: Florida 6-0; Southern Illinois 2-3
Next Up: Thursday, 2:30 p.m., vs. Wake Forest at ESPN Events Invitational (Kissimmee, Fla.), ESPN
Notable
* Alijah Martin went nuclear from 3-point range, tying Florida’s O’Connell Center record with 8 3-point field goals and finishing with 32 points. Martin also led the Gators with nine rebounds and five assists.
* It marked Martin’s third career 30-point game (both previous with FAU: 34, 3/5/22 vs. FIU; 30, 3/11/23 vs. UAB)
* Martin had 18 points at halftime, besting his previous season high (17) before the break.
* Martin’s eight 3-pointers are tied for the third-most in a game in Florida history and matched the most by a Gator in the O’Dome, tying KeVaughn Allen (1/22/19 vs. Texas A&M) and Jason Williams (2/11/98 vs. Auburn).
* Thomas Haugh scored 19 points and blocked four shots, both career highs. Haugh knocked down 3 of 5 3-point attempts and added seven rebounds.
* Florida shot 16-for-39 (.410) from 3-point range, the team’s most 3-point field goals made since tallying 18 vs. Texas A&M on 1/22/19.
* It marked Florida’s 14th game in program history with 16+ 3-pointers made.
* UF has hit double-digit 3-pointers in three straight games, and the Gators’ 16 made 3-pointers exceeded SIU’s 15 attempted.
* UF finished with 25 assists and six turnovers, the Gators most assists since dishing 25 vs. Grambling on 12/22/23. Five players had three or more assists.
* Florida used a 22-2 first-half run, including a 16-0 stretch, to build a comfortable lead, as the Gators led by at least 16 for the final 25:32 of the game and stretched their advantage to as many as 30.
* Walter Clayton Jr. hit a 3-pointer for the 29th straight game, tying Craig Brown for the fifth-longest streak in program history. Michael Frazier II holds the longest streak by a Gator at 41 consecutive games with a 3-pointer.
* Florida has a 6-0 start for the 11th time in program history and the first since 2021-22. The Gators have only advanced to 7-0 five times, most recently in 2012-13.
Head Coach Todd Golden
Opening statement…
“Pumped. Pumped the way we played, thought we played pretty well tonight. Had a good stretch back half of the first half, where we kind of put it all together. The defensive side, clean rebounds, getting out running in transition, obviously shooting the ball well, and we were able to stretch that lead out pretty good in the first half. I thought, second half, played very well offensively again. [We] have not been able to play 40 complete minutes defensively or on the glass. I thought we let ourselves off the hook that way, but again, you know, those are probably hyper-critical thoughts after a 25-point win. Really thought our guys did a good job start to finish tonight.”
On Alijah Martin fitting in with the team…
“You know, it started on his visit and we just feel pretty good the way we construct rosters and team. We knew when we brought Alijah in on his visit that for it to work him, Will [Richard] and Walter [Clayton Jr.] had to get along, plain and simple. It wasn’t going to make a lot of sense if they weren’t going to be able to play with each other, or just root for each other. And all three of those guys got along really well, and that gave us great confidence that he would be able to integrate himself pretty easily into the group. He is a very good leader, he is a very good competitor, he practices at a high-high level every day and he’s taken on more of a vocal leadership role, as well. I think Will is really good that way, also. Walter is really good [leading] by example and Alijah kind of meets in the middle with both, kind of vocal leadership as well as leading by example and how hard he competes.”
Sophomore F Thomas Haugh
On his 3-point shooting tonight…
“Yeah, I worked on it a lot I’m not gonna lie…I didn’t shoot the ball the greatest at the beginning of the year, but my teammates still trust in me and just starting to hopefully get into a rhythm here. All that work is hopefully gonna show soon.”
On getting out rebounded overall and offensively…
“Coach Golden mentioned that to us when we got to the locker room, and we need to work on that. I know the second half kinda got away from us rebounding, like a lot of tipped balls, and I know I stole one of Walt’s rebounds, but we’ll fix that, definitely. We’ve got a great rebounding team, so I’m not worried about that.”
Grad G Alijah Martin
On when he realized that he might have a special night…
“Probably when we went on that run, and I hit that corner three. That corner three, I think that just put something in me. Once the fans started getting involved, it just gives us so much confidence, so credit to the fans, as well. They were stoked. They were rowdy.”
On how the team has come together with all the new pieces…
“It’s beautiful. Just transferring and having to learn about other players, new players, their families, their friends, their playing styles, the coaching staff, as well. It’s been working out, and it’s good.”
On what qualities make this team special and a contender…
“Man, we’re deep. We’re bigger, more athletic. No discredit to my old team, but I really like this group right here. I think we could do something special. If we could just come in here every day and put our head down and work and just stay engaged and just stay together. You know when things get hard and we could just stay together through everything I think we do something special.”
