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Chinyelu's 19 points and 13 rebounds leads No. 2 Florida past LSU 79-65

AP
Feb 22, 2025

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) Rueben Chinyelu had a career-high 19 points to go with 13 rebounds and No. 2 Florida roared back from an eight-point second-half deficit to beat LSU 79-65 on Saturday night.

Thomas Haugh scored 16 points, Alijah Martin added 14 and Walter Clayton Jr. 13 for Florida (24-3, 11-3 SEC), which won its sixth straight.

LSU freshman Robert Miller III scored a career-high 19 points to go with 10 rebounds and was the big reason the Tigers (14-13, 3-11) looked poised to challenge Florida well into the second half.

Florida raced to a 29-15 lead during the opening 13 minutes. But LSU suddenly found its footing when Curtis Givens III hit a 3, sparking a stunning 22-2 run during the final 6:41 of the half.

Florida surged into the lead for good with a 15-2 run that gave the Gators a 53-48 lead. Chinyelu scored seven points during that spurt, including a put-back as he was fouled.

Florida played its third game without starting forward Alex Condon and backup Sam Alexis.

Florida: The Gators shot 7 of 22 from 3-point range, marking the first time in six games they did not hit as many as 10 3s. But they showed the ability to adjust and use their size advantage to dominate the paint, where they outscored LSU 44-24.

LSU: The Tigers are showing the ability to compete in spurts against the SEC's elite teams, but closing out such games has been another matter.

Clayton's steal from Mike Williams III led to Martin's right-wing transition 3, which gave Florida a 69-59 lead with 4:16 to go.

In addition to outrebounding LSU 48-33, Florida grabbed 19 offensive boards and converted those into 17 second-chance points.

Both teams return to action on Tuesday night, when Florida visits Georgia and LSU hosts No. 6 Tennessee.

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1st Half
FLA
Gators
31
LSU
Tigers
37

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Rueben Chinyelu vs. Daimion Collins (Tigers gains possession)
19:35		Daimion Collins misses two point jump shot
19:33		Rueben Chinyelu defensive rebound
19:12		Daimion Collins shooting foul (Rueben Chinyelu draws the foul)
19:12	+1	Rueben Chinyelu makes regular free throw 1 of 2	1-0
19:12	+1	Rueben Chinyelu makes regular free throw 2 of 2	2-0
18:50		Vyctorius Miller misses three point jump shot
18:48		Thomas Haugh defensive rebound
18:40	+2	Alijah Martin makes two point layup	4-0
18:24	+2	Daimion Collins makes two point layup (Curtis Givens III assists)	4-2
18:13		Will Richard misses two point jump shot
18:11		Thomas Haugh offensive rebound
18:03		Walter Clayton Jr. misses three point jump shot
18:01		Rueben Chinyelu offensive rebound
17:55	+3	Thomas Haugh makes three point jump shot (Rueben Chinyelu assists)	7-2
17:37		Rueben Chinyelu shooting foul (Vyctorius Miller draws the foul)
17:37		Vyctorius Miller misses regular free throw 1 of 2
17:37		Vyctorius Miller misses regular free throw 2 of 2
17:37		Rueben Chinyelu defensive rebound
17:22		Rueben Chinyelu misses two point hook shot
17:20		Thomas Haugh offensive rebound
17:15		Alijah Martin misses two point layup
17:13		Dji Bailey defensive rebound
17:02	+2	Daimion Collins makes two point jump shot (Dji Bailey assists)	7-4
16:38	+2	Rueben Chinyelu makes two point hook shot (Will Richard assists)	9-4
16:13		Cam Carter turnover (lost ball) (Walter Clayton Jr. steals)
16:07		Walter Clayton Jr. misses two point layup
16:05		Daimion Collins defensive rebound
15:56		Curtis Givens III misses three point jump shot
15:54		Tigers offensive rebound
15:53		TV timeout
15:47		Cam Carter misses two point jump shot
15:45		Curtis Givens III offensive rebound
15:41		Curtis Givens III misses three point jump shot
15:39		Walter Clayton Jr. defensive rebound
15:27		Curtis Givens III personal foul (Walter Clayton Jr. draws the foul)
15:19	+3	Walter Clayton Jr. makes three point jump shot	12-4
14:47		Cam Carter misses two point layup
14:45		Micah Handlogten defensive rebound
14:39		Walter Clayton Jr. misses three point jump shot
14:37		Robert Miller III defensive rebound
14:36		Micah Handlogten personal foul
14:11		Mike Williams III misses three point jump shot
14:09		Walter Clayton Jr. defensive rebound
13:52		Will Richard misses three point jump shot
13:50		Tigers defensive rebound
13:25		Jordan Sears misses two point jump shot
13:23		Micah Handlogten defensive rebound
13:06	+2	Denzel Aberdeen makes two point jump shot	14-4
13:06		Mike Williams III shooting foul (Denzel Aberdeen draws the foul)
13:06	+1	Denzel Aberdeen makes regular free throw 1 of 1	15-4
12:50		Mike Williams III misses two point jump shot
12:48		Mike Williams III offensive rebound
12:45		Mike Williams III misses two point layup
12:43		Alijah Martin defensive rebound
12:28	+3	Alijah Martin makes three point jump shot	18-4
12:13	+3	Robert Miller III makes three point jump shot (Jordan Sears assists)	18-7
12:01		Denzel Aberdeen misses three point jump shot
11:59		Micah Handlogten offensive rebound
11:52		TV timeout
11:42		Vyctorius Miller personal foul (Urban Klavzar draws the foul)
11:40	+3	Walter Clayton Jr. makes three point jump shot (Rueben Chinyelu assists)	21-7
11:12		Walter Clayton Jr. personal foul (Vyctorius Miller draws the foul)
11:00	+2	Cam Carter makes two point jump shot	21-9
10:51		Urban Klavzar misses three point jump shot
10:49		Vyctorius Miller defensive rebound
10:42	+2	Vyctorius Miller makes two point jump shot	21-11
10:41		Will Richard shooting foul (Vyctorius Miller draws the foul)
10:41	+1	Vyctorius Miller makes regular free throw 1 of 1	21-12
10:30	+2	Denzel Aberdeen makes two point jump shot	23-12
10:11		Cam Carter misses three point jump shot
10:09		Urban Klavzar defensive rebound
9:57	+2	Rueben Chinyelu makes two point alley-oop dunk (Will Richard assists)	25-12
9:43	+2	Jordan Sears makes two point layup	25-14
9:25		Robert Miller III personal foul (Will Richard draws the foul)
9:18		Alijah Martin misses two point layup
9:16		Rueben Chinyelu offensive rebound
9:13		Rueben Chinyelu misses two point jump shot
9:11		Tigers defensive rebound
8:51		Vyctorius Miller misses three point jump shot
8:49		Will Richard defensive rebound
8:42		Jump ball. Denzel Aberdeen vs. Vyctorius Miller (Denzel Aberdeen gains possession)
8:33		Thomas Haugh turnover (traveling)
8:15		Thomas Haugh shooting foul (Cam Carter draws the foul)
8:14	+1	Cam Carter makes regular free throw 1 of 2	25-15
8:14		Cam Carter misses regular free throw 2 of 2
8:14		Alijah Martin defensive rebound
7:50	+2	Rueben Chinyelu makes two point jump shot (Will Richard assists)	27-15
7:36		Walter Clayton Jr. blocks Vyctorius Miller's three point jump shot
7:34		Tigers offensive rebound
7:34		TV timeout
7:25		Rueben Chinyelu blocks Curtis Givens III's two point layup
7:23		Tigers offensive rebound
7:19		Vyctorius Miller misses two point jump shot
7:17		Walter Clayton Jr. defensive rebound
7:14		Cam Carter shooting foul (Alijah Martin draws the foul)
7:14	+1	Alijah Martin makes regular free throw 1 of 2	28-15
7:14	+1	Alijah Martin makes regular free throw 2 of 2	29-15
6:47		Mike Williams III misses three point jump shot
6:45		Dji Bailey offensive rebound
6:41	+3	Curtis Givens III makes three point jump shot (Dji Bailey assists)	29-18
6:26		Walter Clayton Jr. misses three point jump shot
6:24		Alijah Martin offensive rebound
6:17		Alijah Martin misses three point jump shot
6:15		Rueben Chinyelu offensive rebound
6:09		Rueben Chinyelu misses two point layup
6:07		Rueben Chinyelu offensive rebound
6:00		Rueben Chinyelu misses two point jump shot
5:58		Daimion Collins defensive rebound
5:37		Alijah Martin shooting foul (Mike Williams III draws the foul)
5:37		Mike Williams III misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:37	+1	Mike Williams III makes regular free throw 2 of 2	29-19
5:24		Walter Clayton Jr. misses two point jump shot
5:24		Robert Miller III defensive rebound
5:21		Micah Handlogten personal foul (Robert Miller III draws the foul)
5:21	+1	Robert Miller III makes regular free throw 1 of 2	29-20
5:21	+1	Robert Miller III makes regular free throw 2 of 2	29-21
5:08		Denzel Aberdeen turnover (bad pass) (Cam Carter steals)
5:01	+3	Mike Williams III makes three point jump shot (Dji Bailey assists)	29-24
4:47		Denzel Aberdeen turnover (lost ball)
4:34		Robert Miller III misses two point layup
4:32		Micah Handlogten defensive rebound
4:09		Denzel Aberdeen misses two point jump shot
4:07		Robert Miller III defensive rebound
3:57	+2	Robert Miller III makes two point dunk (Curtis Givens III assists)	29-26
3:53		Gators 30 second timeout
3:53		TV timeout
3:39		Will Richard misses three point jump shot
3:37		Cam Carter defensive rebound
3:23	+3	Robert Miller III makes three point jump shot (Mike Williams III assists)	29-29
2:59	+2	Denzel Aberdeen makes two point jump shot	31-29
2:38	+3	Dji Bailey makes three point jump shot (Cam Carter assists)	31-32
2:17		Alijah Martin misses two point jump shot
2:15		Gators offensive rebound
2:09		Alijah Martin misses two point layup
2:09		Gators offensive rebound
2:01		Rueben Chinyelu misses two point jump shot
1:59		Cam Carter defensive rebound
1:46		Rueben Chinyelu personal foul (Robert Miller III draws the foul)
1:46	+1	Robert Miller III makes regular free throw 1 of 2	31-33
1:46	+1	Robert Miller III makes regular free throw 2 of 2	31-34
1:21		Denzel Aberdeen misses three point jump shot
1:19		Robert Miller III defensive rebound
0:51	+3	Mike Williams III makes three point jump shot	31-37
0:37		Alijah Martin misses three point jump shot
0:35		Cam Carter defensive rebound
0:08		Cam Carter misses three point jump shot
0:06		Mike Williams III offensive rebound
0:02		Mike Williams III misses three point jump shot
0:00		Thomas Haugh defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
FLA
Gators
48
LSU
Tigers
28

Time		Play	Score
19:35		Cam Carter misses two point jump shot
19:33		Thomas Haugh defensive rebound
19:13		Rueben Chinyelu misses two point jump shot
19:11		Thomas Haugh offensive rebound
19:05	+2	Thomas Haugh makes two point layup	33-37
19:00	+2	Cam Carter makes two point layup (Curtis Givens III assists)	33-39
18:39		Daimion Collins personal foul (Rueben Chinyelu draws the foul)
18:30		Walter Clayton Jr. misses three point jump shot
18:28		Curtis Givens III defensive rebound
18:10	+2	Curtis Givens III makes two point layup	33-41
17:51		Alijah Martin misses two point jump shot
17:49		Daimion Collins defensive rebound
17:29		Walter Clayton Jr. personal foul (Vyctorius Miller draws the foul)
17:21		Cam Carter misses three point jump shot
17:19		Will Richard defensive rebound
17:12		Will Richard turnover (lost ball)
16:54		Daimion Collins misses two point jump shot
16:52		Rueben Chinyelu defensive rebound
16:44	+2	Walter Clayton Jr. makes two point layup	35-41
16:35		Curtis Givens III misses three point jump shot
16:33		Alijah Martin defensive rebound
16:29	+2	Walter Clayton Jr. makes two point layup	37-41
16:29		Vyctorius Miller shooting foul (Walter Clayton Jr. draws the foul)
16:29	+1	Walter Clayton Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1	38-41
16:10	+2	Robert Miller III makes two point layup (Vyctorius Miller assists)	38-43
15:57		Walter Clayton Jr. misses three point jump shot
15:55		Robert Miller III defensive rebound
15:46	+3	Curtis Givens III makes three point jump shot (Dji Bailey assists)	38-46
15:29	+2	Rueben Chinyelu makes two point jump shot	40-46
15:04		Vyctorius Miller misses two point jump shot
15:02		Walter Clayton Jr. defensive rebound
14:54	+2	Thomas Haugh makes two point layup (Will Richard assists)	42-46
14:32		Robert Miller III misses three point jump shot
14:30		Thomas Haugh defensive rebound
14:25		Cam Carter personal foul (Walter Clayton Jr. draws the foul)
14:25		TV timeout
14:13		Walter Clayton Jr. misses two point jump shot
14:11		Rueben Chinyelu offensive rebound
14:06		Rueben Chinyelu turnover (bad pass) (Mike Williams III steals)
14:04		Rueben Chinyelu blocks Mike Williams III's two point layup
14:04		Walter Clayton Jr. defensive rebound
13:41		Walter Clayton Jr. misses two point layup
13:39		Rueben Chinyelu offensive rebound
13:36	+2	Rueben Chinyelu makes two point layup	44-46
13:17	+2	Robert Miller III makes two point layup (Dji Bailey assists)	44-48
12:49	+2	Rueben Chinyelu makes two point layup (Thomas Haugh assists)	46-48
12:49		Robert Miller III shooting foul (Rueben Chinyelu draws the foul)
12:49	+1	Rueben Chinyelu makes regular free throw 1 of 1	47-48
12:28		Cam Carter misses two point layup
12:26		Thomas Haugh defensive rebound
12:16	+2	Walter Clayton Jr. makes two point jump shot	49-48
12:00		Cam Carter turnover (bad pass)
12:00		TV timeout
11:50	+2	Urban Klavzar makes two point layup (Thomas Haugh assists)	51-48
11:37		Jordan Sears misses three point jump shot
11:35		Corey Chest offensive rebound
11:21		Jordan Sears turnover (bad pass) (Denzel Aberdeen steals)
11:15	+2	Denzel Aberdeen makes two point layup	53-48
10:56	+2	Corey Chest makes two point layup	53-50
10:44	+3	Urban Klavzar makes three point jump shot	56-50
10:26	+2	Cam Carter makes two point jump shot	56-52
10:11		Thomas Haugh misses two point hook shot
10:09		Robert Miller III defensive rebound
9:41		Thomas Haugh blocks Corey Chest's two point layup
9:40		Gators defensive rebound
9:35		Denzel Aberdeen misses two point layup
9:33		Thomas Haugh offensive rebound
9:30	+2	Thomas Haugh makes two point layup	58-52
9:23		Jump ball. Dji Bailey vs. Thomas Haugh (Gators gains possession)
9:23		Dji Bailey turnover (lost ball) (Thomas Haugh steals)
9:09		Robert Miller III personal foul
8:56	+2	Thomas Haugh makes two point dunk	60-52
8:48		Tigers 30 second timeout
8:49		TV timeout
8:30	+2	Daimion Collins makes two point jump shot (Curtis Givens III assists)	60-54
8:14		Alijah Martin misses two point layup
8:12		Mike Williams III defensive rebound
8:01		Cam Carter misses three point jump shot
7:59		Daimion Collins offensive rebound
7:56	+2	Daimion Collins makes two point layup	60-56
7:29		Thomas Haugh misses two point layup
7:27		Thomas Haugh offensive rebound
7:14		Cam Carter blocks Urban Klavzar's two point layup
7:14		Micah Handlogten offensive rebound
7:14		Dji Bailey personal foul (Micah Handlogten draws the foul)
7:14		TV timeout
7:14	+1	Micah Handlogten makes regular free throw 1 of 2	61-56
7:14		Micah Handlogten misses regular free throw 2 of 2
7:14		Cam Carter defensive rebound
6:56		Daimion Collins misses two point jump shot
6:54		Alijah Martin defensive rebound
6:38		Urban Klavzar misses three point jump shot
6:36		Alijah Martin offensive rebound
6:29		Urban Klavzar misses three point jump shot
6:27		Micah Handlogten offensive rebound
6:21	+2	Thomas Haugh makes two point dunk (Micah Handlogten assists)	63-56
5:58	+3	Mike Williams III makes three point jump shot (Daimion Collins assists)	63-59
5:41		Mike Williams III shooting foul (Alijah Martin draws the foul)
5:41		Alijah Martin misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:41		Alijah Martin misses regular free throw 2 of 2
5:41		Cam Carter defensive rebound
5:24		Curtis Givens III misses two point layup
5:22		Curtis Givens III offensive rebound
5:16		Dji Bailey misses three point jump shot
5:14		Robert Miller III offensive rebound
5:14		Will Richard personal foul (Robert Miller III draws the foul)
5:00		Cam Carter turnover (lost ball) (Will Richard steals)
4:58	+2	Alijah Martin makes two point layup	65-59
4:58		Cam Carter shooting foul (Alijah Martin draws the foul)
4:58	+1	Alijah Martin makes regular free throw 1 of 1	66-59
4:34		Will Richard personal foul (Cam Carter draws the foul)
4:23		Mike Williams III turnover (lost ball) (Walter Clayton Jr. steals)
4:17	+3	Alijah Martin makes three point jump shot (Will Richard assists)	69-59
4:16		Gators 30 second timeout
4:16		TV timeout
3:50		Curtis Givens III misses three point jump shot
3:48		Rueben Chinyelu defensive rebound
3:34		Alijah Martin misses two point layup
3:32		Rueben Chinyelu offensive rebound
3:30	+2	Rueben Chinyelu makes two point dunk	71-59
3:23		Cam Carter misses three point jump shot
3:21		Rueben Chinyelu defensive rebound
3:13	+3	Thomas Haugh makes three point jump shot (Alijah Martin assists)	74-59
3:03		Walter Clayton Jr. blocks Dji Bailey's three point jump shot
3:01		Walter Clayton Jr. defensive rebound
2:55		Robert Miller III shooting foul (Alijah Martin draws the foul)
2:55		Alijah Martin misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:55	+1	Alijah Martin makes regular free throw 2 of 2	75-59
2:44		Cam Carter misses three point jump shot
2:42		Will Richard defensive rebound
2:22	+2	Rueben Chinyelu makes two point layup (Thomas Haugh assists)	77-59
2:02		Curtis Givens III misses three point jump shot
2:00		Robert Miller III offensive rebound
1:56	+2	Robert Miller III makes two point layup	77-61
1:56		Rueben Chinyelu shooting foul (Robert Miller III draws the foul)
1:56	+1	Robert Miller III makes regular free throw 1 of 1	77-62
1:31		Walter Clayton Jr. misses two point layup
1:29		Robert Miller III defensive rebound
1:22		Curtis Givens III misses three point jump shot
1:20		Rueben Chinyelu defensive rebound
0:54		Walter Clayton Jr. misses three point jump shot
0:52		Robert Miller III defensive rebound
0:46	+3	Curtis Givens III makes three point jump shot (Cam Carter assists)	77-65
0:45		Tigers 30 second timeout
0:28	+2	Denzel Aberdeen makes two point layup	79-65
0:21		Mike Williams III turnover (bad pass) (Denzel Aberdeen steals)
0:00		End of period

Mike Williams III turnover (bad pass) (Denzel Aberdeen steals)