After two subpar rebounding performances, No. 20 Florida used an impressive night on the glass to overwhelm Grambling State 86-62 on Monday in Gainesville, Fla.
Florida (3-0), which had only broken even in rebounding margin after two games, managed a 45-24 rebounding edge on Monday.
Sophomore center Rueben Chinyelu paced the Gators with a career-high 14 points on 7-for-8 shooting. Walter Clayton Jr. chipped in 12 points, including 3-for-7 shooting from 3-point range. Will Richard also added 12 points and five rebounds, and Sam Alexis had 12 points and six rebounds. Alex Condon tallied 10 points, eight boards and two blocks.
Florida shot 45.3 percent from the field and 30.4 percent (7 for 23) from long range.
The Gators seemed unphased by the recent sexual misconduct allegations surrounding coach Todd Golden. Golden coached the game, as the matter is under investigation from the university.
Grambling (1-2) came in off a two-point loss to Ole Miss but couldn’t stay as close this time. Kintavious Dozier led the Tigers with 19 points and added five rebounds. Antwan Burnett added 16 points and five boards.
Grambling pulled within 46-34 on a dunk by Ernest Ross with 17:24 to play, but Florida answered with a 9-0 run. The Tigers got no closer than 17 points thereafter.
Grambling started the night’s scoring on a layup by Dozier. Florida took the lead immediately on a 3-pointer from Clayton and never trailed again.
The Tigers pulled within 16-10 with 13:10 left in the first half on a bucket by James Flippin, who finished with 12 points. But a 9-2 Florida run stretched the edge to 25-12 on a free throw by Condon. The lead fluctuated between nine and 16 points for the remainder of the half.
Grambling shot 42.6 percent from the field and 2 of 12 on 3-pointers.
The Gators will travel to Tallahassee to face Florida State on Friday. Grambling’s next game is against New Mexico in Albuquerque on Nov. 21.
–Field Level Media
