The Library Media — Sports · Sports Desk
No. 1 Florida Dominates Merrimack, 83-54, to Stay Unbeaten
By Piper Rampage
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — No. 1 Florida continued its unbeaten start with an 83-54 victory over Merrimack at Tower Hill Arena, using a strong finish to the first half and a commanding rebounding advantage to pull away.
Alex Condon led the Gators with 16 points, six rebounds and four assists. Thomas Haugh added 15 points and six rebounds, Rueben Chinyelu had 12 points and six rebounds, and Alex Lloyd scored 11 points in his first career start. Lloyd started with Boogie Fland out due to a sore shoulder.
Florida improved to 4-0, while Merrimack dropped to 1-3.
The Gators took control late in the opening half, closing on a 13-3 run to turn the game into a 43-26 advantage at the break. Florida carried that momentum into the second half, where Merrimack struggled to find its offense. The Warriors missed their first 10 field-goal attempts after halftime, allowing Florida to extend its lead to as many as 34 points.
AJ Lesburt Jr. led Merrimack with 16 points, making four 3-pointers. Denver Anglin also connected on four shots from beyond the arc and finished with 14 points.
Florida’s advantage showed across several areas. The Gators outrebounded Merrimack 39-17 and held a 36-16 edge in points in the paint. Florida also shot 51.9% from the field and made 21 of 22 free throws. Merrimack went 2-of-2 at the line.
Florida scored 43 points in the first half and 40 in the second, while Merrimack managed 26 before halftime and 28 after the break. The 29-point final margin reflected the Gators’ control throughout the game, particularly after their late first-half surge.
The victory kept Florida unbeaten at 4-0. Merrimack left Gainesville with a 1-3 record.
Piper Rampage
Men’s College Basketball, The Library Media
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