Thomas Hauck anchors No. 1 Florida in 77-67 win over No. 14 Miami
The Gators extended the Hurricanes' losing streak with a physical performance behind Hauck's 19 points and 10 rebounds.
By Takeshi Davidson ·
The 2026-27 men's basketball season opened with a decisive win for the national champion.
No. 1 Florida defeated No. 14 Miami 77-67 on Monday night in Tampa, Florida. The contest served as the season opener for both programs. Thomas Hauck led the Gators with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Rueben Chinyelu contributed six points and 14 rebounds. Acaden Lewis scored 24 points for Miami in his first game as a transfer from Villanova.
Hauck controlled the game from the start. The 6-foot-9 senior recorded five offensive rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block. He did not turn the ball over. Hauck made four of his eight three-point attempts. His performance was consistent throughout the contest. He had been named the preseason Southeastern Conference Player of the Year. The senior was expected to be a lottery pick if he had entered the NBA draft.
Miami stayed close early in the second half. The Hurricanes scored the first eight points of the period. Somto Cyril cut the Florida lead to 53-51 after dunking following a missed free throw. The Gators responded with defensive pressure. They held Miami without a field goal for five minutes. Urban Klavzar hit a three-pointer to extend the lead to 66-55.
Florida established control in the first half. The teams were tied or within a few points during the first eight minutes. A 9-0 run gave the Gators a 44-32 lead. They did not trail the rest of the game. Isaiah Brown added a putback dunk late in the first half after a Hauck miss. That basket helped solidify the early advantage.
The game featured physical play between the instate rivals. Officials issued two technical fouls. Three fouls were upgraded to flagrant fouls. Florida won the matchup through effort and strength. The team has kept its core group of players together for several years. The result ended a losing streak for the Hurricanes. They had lost their previous game at Benchmark International Arena to Iowa on March 22.
Florida will host Jacksonville on Thursday night. Miami will host Wagner on Friday night. Both teams remain in the Top 25 rankings following the result.
