Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center | Gainesville, Fla.
Box Score<https://floridagators.com/documents/2024/11/7/2539445.PDF> | Season Stats<https://floridagators.com/documents/2024/11/4/2024-25_UFstats.pdf> | Courtesy Photos & Press Conferences<https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/rb8ojhaf9ygpi6d0k3c9e/ANF6-ow4Wppu1j1zjAsnMXA?rlkey=g1esu5ww8r31yd8dyekcik5iw&st=3b1ht5u5&dl=0>
Records: Florida 2-0; Jacksonville 1-1
Next Up: Monday, 7 p.m., vs. Grambling State, SEC Network+
Notable
* Florida improved to 2-0 behind a career-high 23 points from Alex Condon, who shot a perfect 7-for-7 from the field, including 2-for-2 from 3-point range.
* Alijah Martin added 15 points, including three 3-pointers, and nabbed six steals.
* Will Richard (11) and Sam Alexis (10) both added double-figure scoring, while Walter Clayton Jr. dished seven assists, his most as a Gator, with just one turnover to go along with nine points.
* Florida made its first eight field goal attempts of the game and shot .526 from the field on the night.
* Isaiah Brown made his collegiate debut, and Kajus Kublickas saw his first action of the season.
* The win gives Todd Golden his 99th as a head coach, including his time at San Francisco.
Head Coach Todd Golden
On Alex Condon’s 23-point performance…
“Yeah, I thought he played really well offensively. Just really aggressive, as you said, very efficient. Didn’t even shoot it great from the line but still really just effective on that end and obviously two assists, zero turnovers – really, really clean game that way. Obviously, we want him to be better on the glass, you know? And that was kind of a conversation not just with him specifically, but with the whole team after was, I thought we played a pretty good game, but we did not rebound well enough if we want to be the team that we’re capable of. But for him, specifically, I thought it was a great night, and he did it in only 24 minutes, which is pretty good.”
On Walter Clayton’s 7:1 assist-to-turnover ratio and ability to set up the offense…
“Yeah, I thought he was great. Obviously, didn’t take a lot of shots tonight, only eight field goal attempts, but he played within himself. I thought he did a really good job of kind of reading the game and finding different guys. He was definitely playing as more of a facilitator tonight, which was fine. I thought there were a couple of threes he could have taken that we would have preferred him take, but seven assists, one turnover, obviously really, really good floor game, and we have been really good taking care of the ball so far in our four contests [including scrimmages], so hopefully we can continue that.”
On Sam Alexis giving them a lift off the bench and with the second unit…
“He’s just getting really good, you know? And he was a guy we knew was really talented when we got him from Chattanooga and it kind of took him a little bit in the summer to get acclimated to the high major speed and physicality. but, he’s just really, really productive when he’s on the floor and… you know, it just kind of caught my eye obviously after the game looking at the box score, 10 points, seven rebounds, four blocks in 16… 15 minutes, it’s a heck of a line you know? So, when he gives us that kind of production, obviously Condo [Alex Condon] his game, I thought Reuben [Reuben Chinyelu] was better tonight and Tommy [Thomas Haugh] even though he didn’t produce a whole lot, but was still helping us win… Those guys provide a really good frontcourt for us.”
Sophomore F/C Alex Condon
On points of emphasis after last game, particularly on defense…
“I think we needed to sort out our ball screen coverages a little bit more, and just especially us bigs, communicating that early. and I think we did a little bit better of this job, just we just need to get consistent on it.”
On expanding his range as a shooter…
“It was a weird game for me because I didn’t really rebound. I’ve just been more confident in my three, I’ve been shooting a little bit more at practice recently, so I’m just getting more confident with that and um I know if this team has to be good, I’ve got to be in there rebounding, so, it’s something that I’m going to focus on next week for sure.”
On improving defense in transition…
“Yeah, it was something that we worked on all week because that was pretty unacceptable, what happened against USF. We were still having some jitters. I think it was, you know, the first game. So, it was something that Todd pointed out a lot, and I think we did a better job today, but still something we can work on for sure.
Grad G Alijah Martin
On points of emphasis after last game…
“Just communicating. Coaches came in to practice the next day, emphasizing [communication], what covers to stick with, and I think we get a better job at tonight.”
On his first time playing in front of the home Florida crowd…
“Oh, it was amazing, you know, I’ve been like a little down since the last game and I wanted to make sure my first game here would be like a display of what Alijah Martin can bring to the table for the Gators. I think I did a good job with that, and you know, my teammates did a really good job with just bringing me up every practice, if I missed a shot, telling me ‘We good, we good, next one’s going in,’ just telling me to keep my head up.”
On improving defense in transition…
“Yeah, we just had we had a turn up our sense of urgency, getting back on defense, spreading back, call your man, just be balanced. We got better this week for sure.”
On his high number of steals in the early going…
“My teammates, man. They’re in the gaps for me, they’re getting deflections for me, we’re helping each other on the defensive end. Coming to Florida, we’re making a change this year. Getting better defensively.”
