TAMPA, Fla. – Florida began its national title defense with the second-largest victory margin in NCAA Tournament history, pounding Prairie View A&M 114-55 on Friday night.
Boogie Fland scored 16 points to lead seven players in double figures for the top-seeded Gators (27-7), whose 59-point margin fell short of only Loyola Chicago’s 111-42 win over Tennessee Tech in 1963. Florida advanced to face the South Region’s No. 9 seed, Iowa, in the second round on Sunday.
The Gators showcased their dominance with impressive offensive runs, going on streaks of 18-0 and 17-0 in the first half. This propelled them from a 15-all tie to a commanding 60-21 lead at halftime. Florida shot an astonishing 75% before the break and finished the game with a shooting percentage of 64.3% against the 16th-seeded Panthers (19-18).
In a tournament where other top seeds like Duke and Michigan faced challenges, Florida delivered a powerful performance that sent a clear message about their championship aspirations. “I thought we made a big (statement),” Fland said. “We saw a couple of games before us, 1-16. So to set that record, I felt like it was big, and a big statement for the world for sure.”
Late in the second half, 7-foot-9 freshman Olivier Rioux — the world’s tallest teenager before he turned 20 last month — got in on the action with a putback dunk, further emphasizing Florida’s physical dominance.
Fland made all six of his shots during the game, while Rueben Chinyelu contributed a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Other key contributors included Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon, who finished with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Prairie View, a 35 1/2-point underdog according to BetMGM Sportsbook, struggled to find their footing early on, failing to score a 2-point basket through the first nine minutes. They managed to keep pace initially by converting five of their first seven 3-point attempts, tying the game at 15-all before the Gators took control.
Chinyelu was instrumental during the Gators’ subsequent 18-0 run, effectively sealing the game before a sellout crowd that treated the venue almost like a home court, given the proximity to Florida’s campus in Gainesville. “I think we had a 38-0 paint advantage in the first half, scoring-wise,” Golden said. “So we weren’t settling. We were getting good shots. I thought we played with great purpose all night.”
Florida’s offensive efficiency was mirrored by a robust defensive performance. After Prairie View made five of its first seven 3-point attempts, Gators head coach Todd Golden made adjustments that resulted in the Panthers shooting just 1 of 15 from beyond the arc for the remainder of the game, finishing at 6 of 22.
“We didn’t do a job in the first couple of minutes of guarding the 3-point line, and once we righted that we accomplished what we needed to,” Golden stated, reflecting on his team’s ability to adapt.
Prairie View A&M, a historically Black university located outside of Houston, made its NCAA Tournament appearance after a challenging previous season, where they finished with a disappointing 5-27 record. Despite their struggles, the Panthers demonstrated resilience by defeating Lehigh in the First Four, although they faced a tall order against the Gators.
Donate Horne was one of the few bright spots for Prairie View, scoring 12 points in a tough matchup. Coach Byron Smith acknowledged the challenges his team faced, noting, “Tough game. Obviously Florida’s size really caused some problems for us. They shot the ball at a really high percentage. We got down a little bit early and were playing catch-up from behind most of the night. That’s a tough way to go.”
As Florida prepares for their next challenge against Iowa, they will undoubtedly carry the momentum of this historic victory with them, further establishing their status as a formidable contender in the NCAA Tournament.
For more information on the NCAA Men’s Tournament, visit the AP March Madness bracket and coverage: AP News on March Madness.
