Florida 71, Kentucky 63 FINAL — Alex Condon Double-Double, Gators Advance to SEC Semis as Thomas Haugh Draws 8 Fouls
Florida survived a gritty battle against Kentucky 71-63 in Friday's SEC Tournament quarterfinal at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. The defending national champions advance to Saturday's semifinals behind a dominant 22-point, 10-rebound double-double from Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh's foul-drawing mastery, and 16 offensive rebounds that gave Florida second-chance points all afternoon long. Kentucky's Boogie Fland had a tough afternoon at 7 points on 3-of-13 shooting.
Florida vs Kentucky Final Score: Full Box Score
Florida led 37-28 at halftime and held on in a tighter second half. The Gators outrebounded Kentucky 50-29 — a massive disparity that produced 21 second-chance points and ultimately decided the game.
| Stat | Florida | Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 71 | 63 |
| Halftime | 37 | 28 |
| FG % | 37.9% | 35.6% |
| Free Throws | 24-33 (72.7%) | 16-20 (80%) |
| Total Rebounds | 50 | 29 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 16 | 8 |
| Second Chance Points | 21 | 8 |
| Turnovers | 18 | 12 |
| Biggest Lead | 17 | 0 |
Alex Condon: 22 Points, 10 Rebounds, Double-Double
Alex Condon was Florida's engine all afternoon — 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting with 8-of-11 from the free throw line, 10 rebounds including 5 offensive, and 2 blocks. His efficiency rating of 29 was the highest on the floor for either team. Condon drew 7 fouls and kept Florida's offense going through their poor three-point shooting (just 3-of-20 from deep).
Thomas Haugh Draws 8 Free Throws — Best Foul-Drawing in the Game
Thomas Haugh's stat line looked modest at 13 points on 2-of-9 shooting, but the number that mattered was his 8 fouls drawn — more than any other player in the game. He hit 9-of-10 free throws, grabbed 8 rebounds, and added 3 blocks. His plus-minus of +19 was the best of any player on either side.
Boogie Fland Struggles: 7 Points on 3-of-13 Shooting
Kentucky's leading scorer Boogie Fland had a difficult day, finishing with just 7 points on 3-of-13 from the field including 1-of-5 from three. His minus-15 plus-minus told the full story of Kentucky's struggles when he was on the floor. Fland committed 3 fouls, turned it over twice, and never found any rhythm against Florida's zone.
Kentucky's Bright Spots: Dioubate 14, Aberdeen 17
Mouhamed Dioubate provided a spark off the bench with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting including two threes, while Denzel Aberdeen led all Kentucky scorers with 17 points on 5-of-11. But two players fouling out and a minus-21 rebounding margin were simply too much to overcome.
SEC Tournament Bracket: Full Updated Picture
| Game | Result |
|---|---|
| QF: Florida vs. Kentucky | Florida 71-63 ✅ |
| QF: Vanderbilt vs. Tennessee | Tennessee 82-79 ✅ |
| QF: Alabama vs. Ole Miss | Tonight 7:00 PM ET |
| QF: Arkansas vs. Texas A&M | Tonight ~9:30 PM ET |
SEC Semifinals Saturday: Florida vs. Tennessee
Florida will face Tennessee in Saturday's SEC semifinal at 1:00 PM ET on ESPN at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Tennessee's Nate Ament scored 27 points to eliminate Auburn earlier in the tournament, setting up a rematch of one of the SEC's biggest regular-season rivalries. The SEC Tournament championship game tips Sunday, March 15 at 1:00 PM ET on ESPN. The winner earns the SEC's automatic NCAA Tournament bid heading into Selection Sunday.
