SAN FRANCISCO ― Florida basketball is moving on to the Elite Eight, as No. 1 seed UF overcame 17 turnovers to beat No. 4 seed Maryland 87-71 on Thursday night at the Chase Center. The Florida Gators (33-4) led just 40-38 at halftime and lost starting forward Alex Condon for a stretch in the first half with an ankle injury. Condon returned in the second half, but even without him, Florida dominated on the boards throughout the game, outrebounding Maryland 42-20 and outscoring the Terrapins 21-9 in second-chance points.
Will Richard led a balanced offensive attack for UF with 15 points, one of six players in double figures. Alijah Martin added 14 points and six rebounds, while Thomas Haugh had 13 points and nine rebounds and Denzel Aberdeen scored 12 points. Overall, UF outscored Maryland 29-3 in bench points. Freshman center Derik Queen led Maryland with 27 points, but the Gators put forth a solid defensive effort, holding the Terrapins to 40.7% shooting.
Florida will face the winner of the Sweet 16 matchup between 10-seed Arkansas and 3-seed Texas Tech on Saturday (time TBD). UF is making its first Elite Eight appearance since 2017 and sixth Elite Eight trip since 2011.
Florida was up 74-56 on Maryland with 7:04 remaining. UF's offense was firing on all cylinders, showcasing their resilience after a rocky start. The Gators were still leading 63-54 with 10:24 left in the game. They took a 50-42 lead after back-to-back dunks by center Rueben Chinyelu, forcing Maryland coach Kevin Willard to call a timeout with 16:15 left.
Despite an initial scare with Condon rolling his ankle, he returned to the game and even sank a 3-pointer, proving his importance to the team's success. The Gators had a slim 40-38 lead at halftime after overcoming 13 first-half turnovers, a testament to their grit and determination.
Will Richard and Walter Clayton Jr. were instrumental in leading UF's charge, both contributing 12 points in the first half. Maryland's Ja'Kobi Gillespie led his team with 15 points, but it wasn't enough to keep pace with the Gators.
Florida jumped out to an early 18-9 lead at the second TV timeout, but the game was tightly contested with Maryland fighting back. The crowd at the Chase Center was a near 50-50 split between Florida and Maryland fans, adding to the electric atmosphere.
As the game progressed, Florida continued to assert their dominance on the boards, a crucial factor in their victory. Their ability to convert second-chance opportunities into points was vital, as they outscored Maryland significantly in that category.
With the win, Florida has solidified its place among the top teams in the tournament, showing that they have the depth and talent to go far. The Gators' performance against Maryland is a clear indication of their potential as they aim for a championship run.
The matchup against Arkansas or Texas Tech will be another significant test for Florida, but with the momentum they have built, they are poised to make a deep tournament run. Fans are eagerly anticipating the next game, hoping for another thrilling performance from their Gators.
As the NCAA Tournament continues, every game becomes more critical, and Florida has proven they are ready to rise to the challenge. The excitement of March Madness is palpable, and the Gators are firmly in the mix as they chase their championship dreams.
