What Happened

GAINESVILLE, Fla.  – Junior center Rueben Chinyelu continued on his double-double tear, scoring 15 points and equaling his career-high of 21 rebounds over just 23 just minutes in leading 16th-ranked Florida to a 79-61 victory over LSU in their Southeastern Conference game Tuesday night at Exactech Arena/O’Connell Center. 

The 6-foot-10, 265-pound Chinyelu, who Monday was named SEC Player of the Week for his two monster efforts last week, not only posted his league-high 11th double-double, but became the first Gator to string together four consecutive double-doubles since David Lee in 2005.

In winning a fifth straight (and ninth of 10), the Gators had three other players in double-figure scoring, led by backup junior guard Urban Klavzar, who off the bench to score a team-high 18 points and drill a career-best five 3-pointers. Sophomore point guard Boogie Fland added 10 points and four assists, with junior forward Alex Condon chipping in 10 points.

UF shot just 41% for the game, but again was dominant on the glass, out-rebounding LSU 50-30, including 24-7 on the offensive end leading to 21 second-chance points. With Klavzar red hot, the Gators also had their second straight 3-point effort over 30%, sinking nine of 27 (33.3%), a first this season. The Tigers, led by center Michael Nwoko’s 17 points and six rebounds, shot 43%, including 45 in the second half, but after trailing by a dozen at the half fell behind by as many as 24 with six minutes to go.   

Turning Point 

The UF lead was 28-23 after a 3-pointer by LSU guard Rashard King with 2:26 to go in the first half when the Gators scored 10 of the period’s final 13 points, including 3s by backup guard Isaiah Brown (8 points, 5 rebounds) and another by Thomas Haugh at the halftime buzzer.  

Staggering Statistic

Chinyelu had just nine fewer rebounds than the entire LSU team. 

Up Next

Florida (14-5, 5-1) is back home Saturday for an afternoon SEC date against Auburn (11-7, 2-3) in a rematch of their 2025 Final Four showdown in San Antonio. The Tigers, who like the Gators already have lost more games than they did all last season, play at Ole Miss later Tuesday. LSU (13-6, 1-5) plays at 17th-ranked Arkansas Saturday.

Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu. Find his story archives here.