Florida tops Miami in opener

Thomas Hauck scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to guide the No. 1 Florida Gators to a 77-67 victory over No. 14 Miami on Monday night. The game served as the season opener for both in-state rivals at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida.

Hauck, a 6-foot-9 senior, controlled the paint and perimeter throughout the contest. He secured five offensive rebounds, dished out four assists, and recorded two steals and one block. The Gators did not commit a single turnover when Hauck handled the ball, and he made four of his eight three-point attempts.

The Gators relied on depth when Hauck was not scoring. Rueben Chinyelu provided support on the glass with 14 rebounds and six points. Isaiah Brown also contributed late in the first half, adding a putback dunk after a Hauck miss that extended Florida's lead to 44-32. Florida established early momentum with a 9-0 run after a close start, taking the lead for good.

Miami kept the game competitive for stretches, particularly at the start of the second half. The Hurricanes scored the first eight points of the third quarter. Somto Cyril cut the Florida lead to two points with a dunk after a missed free throw, bringing the score to 53-51. Acaden Lewis, a transfer from Villanova, led Miami with 24 points in his first game for the Hurricanes.

Florida regained control through defense. The Gators held Miami without a field goal for five minutes. Urban Klavzar broke the scoring drought with a three-pointer, giving Florida a 66-55 lead. The physical nature of the matchup resulted in two technical fouls and three flagrant fouls.

This win marked a return to form for Florida in this venue. The Gators had lost their last appearance at Benchmark International Arena to Iowa in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on March 22. The team has maintained its core roster players across multiple seasons.

Florida hosts Jacksonville on Thursday night. Miami plays Wagner on Friday night.