GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Interstat) — The Florida Gators used a dominant performance on the glass and a barrage of second-half three-pointers to pull away from the LSU Tigers for a 79-61 victory in a Southeastern Conference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at a sold-out O’Connell Center.

A crowd of 10,593 watched the Gators improve to 14-5 overall, while LSU fell to 13-6. The game was never as close as the final score indicated, with Florida leading by double digits for the majority of the second half.

The most critical phase of the game occurred in the final minutes of the first half, a stretch that effectively decided the contest. LSU, led by a strong early effort from center Michael Nwoko, had managed to stay within striking distance, trailing just 32-29 after a Max Mackinnon three-pointer with 23 seconds left before halftime. However, the Gators delivered a devastating six-point flurry in the closing seconds to seize complete control.

Following Mackinnon’s three, Florida’s Thomas Haugh was fouled and made one of two free throws. On the ensuing LSU possession, Nwoko committed a turnover that was stolen by Rueben Chinyelu. The Gators quickly capitalized as Boogie Fland found Thomas Haugh for a three-pointer at the buzzer, sending Florida into the locker room with a commanding 38-29 advantage. That sequence, turning a three-point game into a nine-point deficit, took the wind out of the Tigers and set the tone for the second half.

Florida carried that momentum forward, opening the second period with a 6-2 run to extend its lead to 13 points. The Gators’ offense found its rhythm from beyond the arc, particularly through guard Urban Klavzar. The Slovenia native scored 15 of his team-high 18 points after halftime, connecting on three second-half three-pointers. His personal 7-0 run midway through the half, capped by a four-point play after being fouled on a made three, pushed Florida’s lead to 66-52 and effectively ended any lingering LSU hopes.

The Gators’ victory was built on overwhelming physicality and efficiency. They crushed LSU on the offensive glass, securing 22 offensive rebounds which led to 19 second-chance points and a staggering 68-41 advantage in total rebounds. This allowed Florida to overcome a subpar 41.2% shooting night from the field and a 51.9% performance from the free-throw line. Defensively, they held LSU to 42.9% shooting and just 3-of-11 from three-point range.

Nwoko was a bright spot for the Tigers, scoring 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting in 22 minutes. Mackinnon added 10 points for LSU. For Florida, Chinyelu provided a powerful interior presence with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Alex Condon and Boogie Fland each chipped in 10 points. The Gators shared the ball effectively, finishing with 19 assists on 28 made field goals.

The loss continued a difficult stretch for LSU in conference play, dropping them to 2-4 in the SEC. Florida, meanwhile, strengthened its position near the top of the league standings with another impressive home victory. The Gators will look to continue their momentum when they host Auburn on Saturday. LSU will aim to regroup on the road at Arkansas.