JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Interstat) — In a matchup of in-state rivals, the Florida Gators used a dominant performance from their frontcourt and a significant efficiency advantage to pull away from the Miami Hurricanes for an 82-68 victory Sunday night at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.

A crowd of 8,321 watched as the Gators improved to 3-1 on the young season, while the Hurricanes fell to an identical 3-1 record.

The game was ultimately decided by Florida’s superior offensive execution. Despite having fewer possessions, the Gators scored with far greater efficiency. Florida posted an offensive rating of 105.4, scoring 82 points on 78 possessions. Miami, by contrast, managed an offensive rating of just 81.1, scoring its 68 points from 84 possessions. The Gators’ stingier defense and more potent attack proved to be the difference.

Florida’s big men were the story of the game, controlling the paint on both ends of the floor. Alex Condon, a 6-foot-11 sophomore from Perth, Australia, led all scorers with 19 points, adding 7 rebounds and a block in just 22 minutes of action. His fellow forward, Thomas Haugh, was a force on both ends, contributing 17 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and a block in a game-high 36 minutes.

Completing the formidable frontcourt trio was Rueben Chinyelu, a 6-foot-11, 265-pound force from Enugu, Nigeria. Chinyelu recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds, alongside 2 blocks, anchoring the Gators’ interior defense.

The Gators took a 39-29 lead into halftime and never relinquished control, outscoring the Hurricanes 43-39 in the second half to secure the comfortable win. Florida shot 45.8 percent from the field, connecting on 27 of 59 attempts. Miami struggled with its shot all night, finishing at just 33.8 percent on 24-of-71 shooting.

While the three-point shooting was not a highlight for either team, Florida held a slight edge, making 9 of 29 attempts compared to Miami’s 5 of 18. The Gators also capitalized more effectively from the free-throw line, making 19 of 29 attempts, while the Hurricanes left points on the board, converting only 15 of 27.

The Hurricanes were led by Malik Reneau, a 6-foot-9 forward from Miami. Reneau battled hard inside, posting a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Guard Tru Washington from Phoenix added 16 points for Miami, and point guard Tre Donaldson of Tallahassee chipped in 11 points and a team-high 6 assists.

Despite the final margin, the game was characterized by sloppy ball-handling at times. Florida committed 14 turnovers, while Miami was only slightly better with 10. Both teams were nearly even in other hustle categories, with Miami holding a 10-9 edge in offensive rebounds and each team recording 5 steals. Florida narrowly won the blocks battle, 6-5.

For the Gators, guard Urban Klavzar from Slovenia provided a crucial spark from the perimeter, scoring 15 points, including three shots from beyond the arc. Backcourt mate Xaivian Lee of Toronto filled the stat sheet with 5 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.

The game unfolded with Florida methodically building its lead. After a back-and-forth opening few minutes, the Gators began to create separation midway through the first half and maintained a steady advantage throughout, weathering every attempted push from the Hurricanes in the second half.

The victory gives Florida momentum as it heads into a challenging stretch of its non-conference schedule. The Gators are next scheduled to host Merrimack on Friday. Miami will look to rebound when it returns home to face Elon on Thursday.