Florida Gators Defeat Miami Hurricanes 77-67 in Season Opener

The top-ranked Florida Gators opened their 2026-27 college basketball season on Monday night with a 77-67 victory over the No. 14 Miami Hurricanes at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa. Head coach Todd Golden praised his team for putting together a competitive and disciplined effort to secure the win in the Orion180 Tipoff Classic.

Thomas Haugh led the charge for the Gators, recording a stellar 19-point, 10-rebound double-double. Haugh shot 6-for-13 from the field, including 4-for-8 from beyond the arc, while adding four assists, two blocks, a steal, and zero turnovers. Head coach Todd Golden commended his senior forward, calling him the best player on the floor.

Florida also received a significant boost from its bench rotation, which had faced criticism during the preseason. Guards Urban Klavzar and Isaiah Brown, alongside newcomer Domen Petrovic, combined for 22 points. Brown stood out with seven points, three rebounds, and a team-best plus-16 plus-minus in just over 13 minutes of action.

Defensively, the Gators locked down during a crucial stretch in the second half when Miami shot just 1-for-19 from the field between the 11:43 and 1:21 marks. This defensive drought allowed Florida to pull away after the Hurricanes had previously narrowed the deficit to two points. Florida finished the night outrebounding Miami 44-39, blocking five shots, and forcing 11 turnovers.

Despite the loss, Miami's Acaden Lewis led all scorers in the matchup with 24 points. The Hurricanes entered the game looking to continue building momentum under head coach Jai Lucas following a 19-win turnaround during the previous season.

With the victory, Florida moved to 48-24 all-time against Miami and collected its first win of a campaign where the program holds national title aspirations. The Gators return home to host Jacksonville for their home opener, while Miami looks to regroup early in the new college basketball season.