Alex Condon, Boogie Fland carry No. 7 Florida past Texas

Alex Condon poured in 23 points on 10-of-12 shooting and Boogie Fland added 22 points as No. 7 Florida pulled away late for an 84-71 win over Texas on Wednesday in a Southeastern Conference clash in Austin, Texas.

Texas was ahead by three points at halftime and by 64-61 with 7:27 to play after a 9-0 surge. The Gators responded, fashioning a 14-1 run capped by Fland’s 3-pointer with 4:16 remaining to jump to a 10-point advantage.

After the Longhorns closed to within 75-67, Xaivian Lee hit a 3-pointer, Fland canned a jumper and Isaiah Brown leaped over the Texas defense for a resounding dunk that stoked Florida’s lead to 82-67 with 2:33 remaining. From there, the Gators (22-6, 13-2 SEC) cruised to the finish line to win their eighth straight game and 13th in their past 14 contests.

Lee added 12 points and six assists for Florida, which tied a program record with its seventh consecutive conference road win. It was the Gators’ seventh double-digit victory during its current streak.

Dailyn Swain led Texas (17-11, 8-7 SEC) with 21 points. Tramon Mark added 15 points, Jordan Pope scored 14 and Matas Vokietaitis hit for 12 but the Longhorns went the final 7:27 without a field goal and dropped their second straight outing.

The game was tied at the 13:11 mark of the first half before the Longhorns scored eight straight points, with Mark’s dunk with 11:10 to play putting Texas up 20-12. Florida swung back, retaking the lead at 28-27 on an alley-oop dunk by Condon with 5:53 until halftime.

The Longhorns rebuilt their lead to 36-31 on a three-point play by Nic Codie with 3:33 to go. Fland rallied Florida into a tie at 36 with a jumper and then a 3-pointer on the break, the latter with 1:21 to play in the half.

Swain’s layup with 44 seconds left and a free throw by Vokietaitis allowed Texas to carry a 39-36 lead to the break.

Mark led all scorers before halftime with 13 points while Condon led the Gators with 11.

The Gators opened the second half with a 7-1 run that netted them a 43-40 lead that they eventually turned into a six-point advantage after a 3-pointer by Urban Klavzar with 9:53 to play. Texas responded with nine consecutive points to retake the lead at 64-61 with 7:27 left, setting the stage for the furious finish.

–Field Level Media