Hauck's 19 points, 10 rebounds drive No. 1 Florida past Miami, 77-67

Thomas Hauck scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the No. 1 ranked Florida Gators to a 77-67 victory over No. 14 Miami on Monday night. The win served as the season opener for both programs at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa.

Miami held the Gators to a single-digit lead for the first eight minutes of the contest. Florida broke the tie with a 9-0 run that established control for the remainder of the game. The Hurricanes did not trail again after that sequence.

The physical nature of the in-state rivalry was evident on the court. Officials issued two technical fouls and upgraded three regular fouls to flagrants. The Gators relied on their depth and rebounding to maintain their lead in the second half.

Rueben Chinyelu contributed 14 rebounds and six points for Florida. The Gators had previously lost at this venue to Iowa in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on March 22. That prior defeat at Benchmark International Arena was erased on Monday.

Hauck, the preseason Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, played a clean game. The 6-foot-9 senior recorded four assists, two steals, one block, and five offensive rebounds. He did not commit a turnover and made four of his eight three-point attempts.

Miami kept the game close by scoring the first eight points of the second half. Somto Cyril cut Florida's lead to 53-51 after a dunk that followed a missed free throw. The Gators responded with defensive stops, holding the Hurricanes without a field goal for five minutes.

Urban Klavzar extended the Florida lead to 66-55 with a three-pointer. Acaden Lewis, a transfer from Villanova, led Miami with 24 points in his first game for the Hurricanes. Florida hosts Jacksonville on Thursday, while Miami hosts Wagner on Friday.