GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Interstat) — In a dominant display of size and efficiency, the Florida Gators cruised to an 80-45 victory over the visiting Merrimack Warriors in a non-conference men’s basketball game Friday night at a sold-out O’Connell Center.

A crowd of 10,935 watched as the Gators seized control from the opening tip and never relented, building a 27-point halftime lead that effectively decided the contest. Florida’s commanding first-half performance, where they outscored Merrimack 44-17, was fueled by a stifling defense and a relentless attack in the paint.

The Gators’ interior presence was overwhelming. Florida outscored Merrimack 36-22 in the paint and outrebounded the Warriors decisively, creating numerous second-chance opportunities. The Gators also capitalized on Merrimack’s mistakes, scoring 13 points off turnovers compared to the Warriors’ 6, and held a significant 11-3 advantage in fastbreak points.

Alex Condon, a 6-foot-11 sophomore from Perth, Australia, led the Gators with a team-high 20 points, showcasing a versatile offensive game with dunks, jump shots, and free throws while also contributing on the boards. His frontcourt partner, 6-foot-11 Rueben Chinyelu of Enugu, Nigeria, was a force on both ends, adding 14 points and controlling the defensive glass.

The Gators’ backcourt also made significant contributions. Boogie Fland, a 6-foot-3 guard from the Bronx, N.Y., chipped in 10 points, 3 assists and a block, while Thomas Haugh, a 6-foot-9 forward from New Oxford, Pa., provided a spark off the bench with 13 points.

Merrimack, which struggled to find any consistent offensive rhythm against Florida’s size and athleticism, was led by Kevair Kennedy. The 6-foot-1 guard from Philadelphia scored 14 points, but the Warriors’ offense was largely contained. Andres Marrero added 7 points for Merrimack.

The game’s outcome was never in doubt after the first 10 minutes. Florida opened the game on a 16-3 run, with Chinyelu scoring the team’s first seven points. The Gators’ lead ballooned to 30-7 midway through the first half following a transition layup from Condon, and they continued to build on it from there.

The second half saw Florida maintain its comfortable margin, with the lead never dipping below 27 points as both teams emptied their benches in the final minutes. The Gators’ defense held Merrimack to just 28 points in the second half to secure the 35-point victory.

With the win, Florida improved its season record to 4-1, bouncing back from its only loss of the season to Arizona. The Gators now look ahead to a challenging road test against Texas Christian in San Diego on Thursday.

Merrimack fell to 2-4 with the loss, snapping a two-game winning streak that included victories over Maine and Boston University. The Warriors continue a difficult road stretch with a game at Penn next Friday.

The game’s final score of 125 total points fell well under the pregame over/under line of 160.5, a testament to Florida’s defensive dominance and Merrimack’s offensive struggles. The Gators also easily covered the pregame spread, which had them favored by 36.5 points.