GAINESVILLE, Fla. – As the halftime buzzer sounded, the Gators held a narrow four-point advantage over a Southeastern Conference rival still searching for its first conference win. Head coach Todd Golden, dealing with injuries that forced him to field a third different starting lineup in four games, didn’t dwell on tactical adjustments. His message was straightforward.

“We needed to put in more effort,” Golden emphasized.

And put in more effort they did. Right away, Florida opened the second half with a three-pointer from junior guard Denzel Aberdeen, followed quickly by another from sophomore forward Thomas Haugh, extending their lead into double digits. These initial shots set the tone for both players’ performances and the Gators’ momentum, ultimately leading to an efficient second-half display that resulted in an 88-67 victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks before a full house at Exactech Arena on Saturday night.

Both Aberdeen and Haugh achieved career-high scores, with Aberdeen recording 22 points and tallying five three-pointers alongside three assists and no turnovers in 30 minutes of play. Meanwhile, Haugh contributed 20 points, six rebounds, three assists, and a steal. The Gators (22-3, 9-3) celebrated their fourth consecutive victory, shooting an impressive 70.4 percent in the second half, including eight of 14 three-pointers (57.1 percent). They limited the Gamecocks (10-15, 0-12) to just 35.7 percent shooting.

Senior guard Walter Clayton Jr. contributed 10 points, four rebounds, and recorded eight of the team’s 24 assists — a season-high for conference play. Sophomore center Rueben Chinyelu matched Clayton’s 10 points while grabbing six rebounds. Florida outpaced their opponents 26-7 in fastbreak points.

“Coach Golden emphasized that we needed to elevate our game,” noted Aberdeen regarding the halftime talk. “We were sluggish on both offense and defense initially. We emerged in the second half ready to score and tightened up our defense, allowing our offense to flourish.”

Despite a challenging first half, perhaps due to the recent changes in the roster, progress was made. Just weeks earlier, Aberdeen had never participated in a college start, but this was his fourth consecutive start due to injuries to senior Clayton (ankle) and fifth-year player Alijah Martin (hip pointer). Haugh made his first career start during this game amidst injuries to sophomore forward Alex Condon and backup forward Sam Alexis.

With significant changes to the starting five, it was essential to adapt quickly. Adding to this mix was 7-foot-1 center Micah Handlogten, who returned to the court after suffering a broken leg last March 17 in the SEC Tournament and chose to forego his medical redshirt year.

Following Golden’s halftime encouragement, the Gators surged to a rapid 12-1 start in the second half. This tempo mirrored their explosive openings in previous games, such as a 20-9 lead against No. 1 Auburn and a dominant 15-0 run to start their game against Mississippi State, both on the road.

“Their numbers in the second half were incredible,” noted South Carolina coach Lamont Paris.

The Gators were remarkable during a stretch from the 14:56 mark (with a nine-point lead) to the 11:21 mark. The scoring within that time frame included:

• Aberdeen 3
• Martin 3
• Aberdeen 3
• Aberdeen 3
• South Carolina layup
• Haugh 3

This flurry resulted in a 15-2 run for Florida, highlighted by five consecutive three-pointers that propelled them ahead by 22, creating a frenzied atmosphere in the O’Dome.

“In the first half, I felt we were somewhat out of sync,” Golden shared, recognizing the impact of the new starting lineup alongside Martin’s return and Handlogten’s inclusion. “We needed to refocus on our identity rather than overanalyzing adjustments. I believe we successfully returned to our core in the second half.”

Throughout the game, Martin was able to reclaim his rhythm, finishing with 11 points, three assists, and two steals after an 11-day hiatus. Handlogten made a much-anticipated return to the court, receiving a warm welcome as he contributed two points, three rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and plenty of joy in nearly 20 minutes of action.

“It was surreal, like a dream coming true,” Handlogten expressed regarding his emotional comeback. “Playing in my first game in 11 months was an experience I never expected.”

Ultimately, Handlogten and the Gators came together, securing victory after navigating their roster’s midseason adjustments.

“We’ll get through this,” Haugh remarked confidently.

Indeed, they appear to be on track. Over their four-game winning streak, despite facing injuries and inconsistent lineups, the Gators have shot 53.2 percent from the field and 43.2 percent from beyond the arc, racking up 85 assists and sinking 51 three-pointers. This squad is demonstrating some of its best performance levels of the season.

“Collectively, we’ve developed a solid understanding of our offensive strategy,” Golden noted.

As they look forward, the duration of Condon’s absence — the team’s third-leading scorer and top rebounder — looms as a key factor in the closing stretch of the season. For the time being, Golden’s message to his players remains focused on embodying their identity through hard work and determination, both halves of every game.

Connect with senior writer Chris Harry via email at chrish@gators.ufl.edu