Florida Gators at South Carolina Gamecocks
· NCAA Men's Basketball
Gators beat Gamecocks for first SEC win 71-63
Colin Castleton added 10 points, 10 points fewer than his average in conference play, but had a career-tying eight blocks plus seven rebounds. Florida (10-6, 1-3) avoided its its first 0-4 SEC start since 1950.
Chico Carter Jr. scored 12 points and Erik Stevenson added 10 for the Gamecocks (10-6, 1-3).
In its three SEC losses — all against teams ranked in the top 15 — Florida shot 40%. Against the Gamecocks, the Gators shot 55% to 35% for South Carolina.
South Carolina, which trailed by 13 after CJ Felder sparked an 8-0 Gators run with a pair of dunks, got within six after a Carter 3-pointer with 1:14 remaining. Florida ran the shot clock down then Reeves saved a rebound as he flew out of bounds. South Carolina was forced to foul and Tyree Appleby made two free throws before a final Castleton block — Florida's 11th of the game.
The Gamecocks only lead was 2-0. Two turnovers and three missed shots by the Gamecocks helped Florida go on a 9-0 run and take the game's first double-digit lead at 21-10 with Elijah Kennedy capping the spurt with five points, including a 3-pointer. The lead reached 14 before South Carolina scored the final five points, including a Jacobi Wright 3-pointer to close within 36-28.
South Carolina is at Arkansas on Tuesday, while the Gators are home against Mississippi State on Wednesday.
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Recent Plays
| 2nd 0:00 | End of Game | 71 - 63 |
| 2nd 0:00 | End of 2nd half | 71 - 63 |
| 2nd 0:24 | Brandon McKissic Defensive Rebound. | 71 - 63 |
| 2nd 0:28 | Colin Castleton Block. | 71 - 63 |
| 2nd 0:28 | Chico Carter Jr. missed Layup. | 71 - 63 |
Statistics
 FLA |
 SC |
|
|---|---|---|
| 27-49 | FG | 26-75 |
| 55 | Field Goal % | 35 |
| 7-22 | 3PT | 8-22 |
| 32 | Three Point % | 36 |
| 10-15 | FT | 3-5 |
| 67 | Free Throw % | 60 |
| 35 | Rebounds | 38 |
| 8 | Offensive Rebounds | 21 |
| 27 | Defensive Rebounds | 17 |
| 17 | Assists | 10 |
| 8 | Steals | 10 |
| 11 | Blocks | 3 |
| 15 | Turnovers | 9 |
| 1 | Team Turnovers | 0 |
| 15 | Total Turnovers | 9 |
| 0 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 10 | Points Off Turnovers | 19 |
| 10 | Fast Break Points | 13 |
| 34 | Points in Paint | 20 |
| 10 | Fouls | 15 |
| 13 | Largest Lead | 2 |
Game Information
Location: Columbia, SC
Attendance: 10,813 | Capacity:
2025-26 Southeastern Conference Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 16-2 | - | 25-6 |
| Alabama | 13-5 | 3 | 23-8 |
| Arkansas | 13-5 | 3 | 23-8 |
| Vanderbilt | 11-7 | 5 | 24-7 |
| Tennessee | 11-7 | 5 | 21-10 |
| Texas A&M | 11-7 | 5 | 21-10 |
| Georgia | 10-8 | 6 | 22-9 |
| Missouri | 10-8 | 6 | 20-11 |
| Kentucky | 10-8 | 6 | 19-12 |
| Texas | 9-9 | 7 | 18-13 |
| Oklahoma | 7-11 | 9 | 17-14 |
| Auburn | 7-11 | 9 | 16-15 |
| Mississippi State | 5-13 | 11 | 13-18 |
| South Carolina | 4-14 | 12 | 13-18 |
| Ole Miss | 4-14 | 12 | 12-19 |
| LSU | 3-15 | 13 | 15-16 |