GAINESVILLE — Florida’s frontcourt nullified Alabama’s controversial 7-footer Charles Bediako and continued to dominate the Crimson Tide, making statement entering the heart of SEC play.
With Dick Vitale courtside, a national TV audience tuned in and 10 NBA scouts on hand, the No. 19 Gators (16-6, 7-2 SEC) turned in one their complete performance this season during a 100-74 rout of No. 23 Alabama (14-7- 4-4).
Florida’s fifth straight win against Nate Oats’ team came on the heels of Bediako’s return after two seasons in the NBA’s G-League, a move drawing criticism but expected to bolster the Crimson Tide’s front court. Yet, Bediako did little slow down one of the nation’s top front courts before fouling out after totaling six points and seven rebounds.
The Gators outscored the Crimson Tide 72-26 in the paint behind a SEC season-best 23 points by power forward Alex Condon and finished with a 44-33 rebounding advantage. Once again, Rueben Chinyelu led the way, finishing with 17 boards — the 16th time the 6-foot-11, 265-pound junior has led the Gators.
Chinyelu, Condon and Thomas Haugh, who scored 22 points, did not have shoulder the load Sunday before a sellout crowd of 10,627 in the O’Dome.
Sophomore point guard Boogie Fland turned in a nearly flawless floor game, finishing with 13 points, seven assists and just one turnovers, along with a career-high eight steals — two leading to first-half dunks with the game still in the balance. The Gators committed just two turnovers, the first when Haugh lost the ball with 16:40 remaining in the second half.
Behind Haugh and Condon, Florida closed the first half with a flourish. With the game tied 28-28, a Condon dunk ignited a 13-2 run capped by a Haugh 3-pointer. The Gators led 46-36 at halftime, with Condon and Haugh combining for 27 points.
The Gators immediately extended the advantage with a 12-0 run after intermission and never looked back during their latest rout of Bama, losers by an average of 17.3 points during the streak.
The 17th win in 18 home games for Todd Golden’s team came eight days after Florida came out flat during a 76-67 loss to Auburn, a performance the Gators vowed not to repeat against the Crimson Tide.
Flroida’s 7-foot-9 redshirt freshman Olivier Rioux scored the Gators’ final points on a putback of his own miss with 30 seconds to go, putting an exclamation point on another Alabama beatdown.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
