Florida beats Miami 77-67 behind Hauck's 19-point, 10-rebound effort
The Gators used a second-half defensive stop to pull away from the Hurricanes in their season opener.
By Austin Reed ·
Thomas Hauck scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to guide the No. 1 ranked Florida Gators to a 77-67 victory over No. 14 Miami on Monday night. The win marked the season debut for both programs.
Hauck, a 6-foot-9 senior, dominated the interior game. He recorded five offensive rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block. He did not turn the ball over and made four of his eight three-point attempts.
Rueben Chinyelu contributed 14 rebounds and six points for Florida. The Gators had previously lost at Benchmark International Arena to Iowa during the NCAA Tournament on March 22.
Acaden Lewis, a transfer from Villanova, scored 24 points in his first game with the Hurricanes. Miami remained competitive early in the second half, scoring the first eight points of the period. The Hurricanes cut Florida's lead to 53-51 after Somto Cyril dunked following a missed free throw.
Florida responded with a five-minute defensive stand that held Miami to zero points from the field. Urban Klavzar broke that drought with a three-pointer, but Florida had already established a 66-55 lead.
The Gators controlled the first half after a slow start. They trailed or tied for the first eight minutes before outscoring Miami 9-0 to take the lead. They never trailed again. Isaiah Brown secured a 44-32 advantage late in the first half with a putback dunk.
The contest was physical, featuring two technical fouls and three flagrant fouls. Florida hosts Jacksonville on Thursday, while Miami hosts Wagner on Friday.
