Sports | Basketball - The Independent Florida Alligator

Gators senior guard Leilani Correa maintains possession of the ball while being blocked by a Razorback defender against Arkansas on Thursday, February 8, 2024.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators come away with last-second victory in thriller against Razorbacks

By Jack Meyer | Feb. 8

The Gators (12-9, 3-6 SEC) secured their third SEC win of the season in a tightly contested 84-81 victory over the Razorbacks (17-8, 5-5 SEC) on Thursday night. Florida led by as many as nine points and trailed by as many as 10 on the evening, but the team emerged from the dust triumphant following a strong fourth quarter showing.

Junior guard Walter Clayton Jr. drives in for a layup in Florida’s 79-70 win against Mississippi State on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators men’s basketball is a tournament team, but might be one-and-done

By Bennett Solomon | Feb. 5

On Jan. 31, the Gators men’s basketball team earned its most important win of the season and its biggest in the Todd Golden era. The team took on a hostile Rupp Arena environment and came back from a double-digit deficit to defeat the then-No.10 Kentucky Wildcats in overtime. But Feb. 3, Florida’s win streak came to an end in College Station, Texas, against the unranked Texas A&M Aggies. In a game where the Gators led for the majority of the contest, second-half struggles caused the team to blow a 13-point lead and lose by one point.

Head coach Kelly Rae Finley coaches senior guard Aliyah Matharu during the Gators' 82-65 win against the UNF Ospreys on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators women’s basketball squashed by No. 9 LSU

By Jack Meyer | Feb. 4

The Gators women’s basketball team (11-9, 2-6 SEC) was crushed by the No. 9 LSU Tigers (19-4, 6-3 SEC) in a 106-66 blowout loss. Florida fell behind early on in the first quarter, and LSU never let its foot off of the gas pedal.

Gators men's basketball guard Zyon Pullin shoots a jump shot in the team's 102-98 win over the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, January 27, 2024.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators fall to Texas A&M 67-66 in gut-wrenching fashion

By Max Tucker | Feb. 3

Second half struggles cause Gators men’s basketball to fall to Texas A&M.

Junior guard Walter Clayton Jr. drives in for a layup in Florida’s 87-85 loss to Kentucky Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida outduels No. 10 Kentucky in overtime thriller

By Max Tucker | Jan. 31

The Florida Gators men’s basketball team (15-6, 5-3 SEC) defeated the Kentucky Wildcats (15-5, 5-3 SEC) 94-91 in a thrilling overtime victory at Rupp Arena, Wednesday.

Senior guard Leilani Correa shoots a layup in the Gators' 89-77 loss against the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Jan. 22, 2024.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators women’s basketball gets much-needed win to end SEC Struggles

By Jack Meyer | Jan. 29

The 2023-2024 season hasn’t been kind to the Florida Gators women’s basketball team since the new year. However, the team got a much-needed win Sunday.

Senior guard Bennett Andersen smiles on the court in the Gators’ 96-57 win against the Grambling State Tigers on Dec. 22, 2023.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Team manager turned walk-on: Bennett Andersen’s UF journey

By Max Tucker | Jan. 29

Bennett Andersen always wanted to attend UF for its academics. However, his love and passion for basketball made him want to have a role with the men’s program. After spending his first three seasons as a team manager, he found himself with an opportunity to join the roster as a walk-on in his final year in Gainesville.

Senior guard Leilani Correa looks for a pass from senior forward Faith Dut in the Gators' 89-66 loss against the South Carolina Gamecocks.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators women's basketball survives last-second scare from Aggies for second SEC win

By Jack Meyer | Jan. 28

The short-handed Florida Gators women’s basketball team picked up its second SEC win of the season in a 63-51 win over the Texas A&M Aggies.

Gators men's basketball center Micah Handlogten flexes after a basket in Florida's 102-98 victory over Georgia Saturday, January 27, 2024.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida holds on to take down Georgia after second-half scare

By Max Tucker | Jan. 27

The Florida Gators men’s basketball team escaped by the Georgia Bulldogs 102-98 in overtime at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Saturday.

Mike White leads a team huddle Feb. 19. His Gators face the Texas A&M Aggies Thursday in the SEC Tournament.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Mike White to return to Gainesville as Florida is set to host Georgia

By Bennett Solomon | Jan. 26

Mike White is set to return to the Stephen C. O'Connell Center for the second time Saturday as Florida hosts Georgia at noon.

Senior guard Leilani Correa shoots a free throw against the Florida A&M Rattlers Monday, Nov. 7, 2022.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators women’s basketball SEC struggles continue, falls to Ole Miss

By Bennett Solomon | Jan. 25

The Gators women’s basketball team suffered its fifth SEC loss to the Ole Miss Rebels 81-70, Thursday.

Florida men's basketball guard Will Richard rises up to shoot the ball in the team's win over Mississippi State on Wednesday, January 24, 2024.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators men’s basketball defeats Mississippi State 79-70 for third victory in SEC play

By Max Tucker | Jan. 24

The Florida Gators men’s basketball team improved its home record to 8-1 as they defeated Mississippi State 79-70, Wednesday.

Leilani Correa drives to the hoop in Florida's loss to Mississippi State on Monday, January 22, 2024. Correa recorded a season-high 33 points.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators crumble in fourth quarter en route to 89-77 loss to Mississippi State

By Jack Meyer | Jan. 22

The Florida Gators women’s basketball team fell to the Mississippi State Bulldogs 89-77, Monday night. The team is now 1-4 in SEC play.

Sophomore guard Riley Kugel rises up to dunk the ball in the Gators' 93-73 win against the Loyola Maryland Greyhounds on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Second half surge lifts Gators past Tigers 79-67 in road SEC matchup

By Max Tucker | Jan. 20

The Florida Gators men’s basketball team (12-6, 2-3 SEC) defeated the Missouri Tigers (8-10, 0-5 SEC) 79-67 at the Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Missouri, Saturday night.

Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. fires a jump shot in the Gators' 77-57 home win over the Merrimack Warriors on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators men’s basketball dominated by another SEC opponent; falls to Tennessee 85-66

By Bennett Solomon | Jan. 16

The Gators men’s basketball team was crushed by the Tennessee Volunteers 85-66 in Knoxville, Tuesday.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators men’s basketball have competed with top teams — it needs to begin taking them down

By Bennett Solomon | Jan. 16

The Gators men’s basketball team has shown they can compete with strong teams. They now have to start beating them before it’s too late.

Senior guard Leilani Correa takes a jump shot in the Gators' 82-65 win against the North Florida Ospreys.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators hold off Bulldogs for first SEC win of 2023-24 season

By Jack Meyer | Jan. 14

The Florida Gators women’s basketball team survived a close contest with the Georgia Bulldogs Sunday for their first conference win of the season.

Graduate student forward Tyrese Samuel shoots a 3-pointer in the Gators' 90-68 win over Arkansas on Saturday, January 13, 2023.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida breaks through for first SEC win with 90-68 victory over Arkansas

By Max Tucker | Jan. 13

The Florida Gators men’s basketball team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks 90-68 to pick up their first victory in conference play this season.

Senior guard Aliyah Matharu shoots a jumpshot in the Gators' 83-69 win against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators women's basketball drops to 0-3 in conference play following 88-81 loss to Tennessee

By Jack Meyer | Jan. 11

The Gators women’s basketball team dropped their third consecutive SEC matchup in a close contest against the Tennessee Volunteers.

Graduate student guard Zyon Pullin drives with the ball in the Gators' 89-68 win against the Florida State Seminoles on Friday, November 17, 2023.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida dismantled by Ole Miss 103-85 in first road SEC matchup

By Max Tucker | Jan. 11

The Florida Gators men’s basketball team (10-5, 0-2 SEC) fell to the Ole Miss Rebels (14-1, 1-1 SEC) 103-85 in their first Southeastern Conference road game of the season.