What Happened

GAINESVILLE, Fla.  – Point guard Walter Clayton Jr., in his final Florida home game, put on a “Senior Night” show with 23 points, nailing five 3-pointers, to go with five rebounds and eight assists to lead the fifth-ranked Gators to a 90-71 rout of Southeastern Conference foe Ole Miss in the 2024-25 regular-season finale Saturday night at sold-out Exactech Arena/O’Connell Center. 

After the pregame ceremony honoring Clayton and his senior classmates Alijah Martin and Will Richard, Clayton went nine of 17 from the floor and five of 11 from the 3-point line. Martin added 13 points and five rebounds, while Richard was good for 10 points. Sophomore forward Alex Condon had a second straight double-double, following up his sensational performance in Wednesday’s win at Alabama by scoring 17 points, hitting six of his seven field-goal tries, grabbing 15 rebounds and dishing three assists. 

The Gators shot 49.2 percent for the game, hit 14 3-pointers and out-worked another SEC team on the glass with a 48-36 advantage. They defended the Rebels at 33.3 percent for the game and just seven of 21 from distance (33.3 percent). 

The win was UF’s third straight, ninth in the last 10 games and sent the Gators into the postseason — and next week’s SEC Tournament — with a lot of momentum. 

The game was fairly tight throughout the first half, as UF undermined its 52-percent shooting with nine turnovers, but still led 38-31 at the break. 

The Rebels, who were led by 22 points from guard Sean Padulla, pulled with three early in the second half, but Clayton hit a pair of 3s and Richard another during a 14-0 UF run that opened a 17-point lead. The margin stayed in double digits the rest of the game and ballooned to as high as 22.  

What it Means

By winning their 27th regular-season game (the second-most in program history) and 14th league game (the most since 2017), the Gators look like a lock for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, probably in the West Region. Some conference tournament results could shake out to change that, but it’s unlikely, given UF cemented its place as the second-best team in the best and deepest college basketball league in two decades. The Gators are now 8-4 in Quadrant 1 opportunities and 19-0 in Q 2-3 games. In other words, no so-called bad losses. 

In the Spotlight

What an exit for the three seniors, but especially for Clayton, whose point total was his highest in 13 games. His growth as an on-ball guard this season has been terrific, with seven games of at least seven assists.

Staggering Statistic

Florida finished the ’24-25 season with a 15-1 record at home with an average margin of victory of 23.5 points, including 16.2 in SEC play. 

Up Next

Florida (27-4, 14-4) will be the No. 2 seed in the SEC Tournament next week at Nashville, Tenn., meaning the Gators will have a bye through the first two rounds and into Friday’s quarterfinals. Their first opponent will depend on the Wednesday and Thursday outcomes. It’ll mark the first time since 2018 that Florida has a double-bye. Ole Miss (21-10, 10-8) will open SEC Tournament play in Thursday’s second round and are in solid position for a No. 4- or 5-seed in the NCAA field. 

Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu