Alex Condon scored a career-best 27 points and collected 10 rebounds and No. 5 Florida clinched the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Southeastern Conference tournament with a solid 99-94 victory over No. 7 Alabama on Wednesday at Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Walter Clayton Jr. recorded 22 points, eight assists and five rebounds for the Gators (26-4, 13-4 SEC), who won for the 11th time in the past 13 games. Thomas Haugh added 12 points and Alijah Martin had 10 for Florida.
Mark Sears amassed 30 points, six rebounds and five assists in his final home game for the Crimson Tide (23-7, 12-5), who have dropped four of their past six games.
Labaron Philon scored 19 points and Clifford Omoruyi added 11 points and seven rebounds for Alabama. Grant Nelson and Aiden Sherrell each had 10 points.
Florida shot 48.6 percent from the field, including 8 of 27 (29.6 percent) from 3-point range.
The Crimson Tide made 47.2 percent from their shots and hit 9 of 25 (36 percent) from behind the arc.
Omoruyi made four straight free throws and Sears sank two as the Crimson Tide crept within 87-82 with 1:25 left.
Condon and Haugh answered by making two free throws apiece as the Gators pushed their lead back to nine with 1:14 remaining.
Alabama later moved within 92-87 on a 3-pointer by Philon with 40.6 seconds remaining. After Martin made two free throws, Jarin Stevenson drilled a wide-open 3-pointer to pull the Crimson Tide within 94-90 with 20.7 seconds left.
However, Haugh and Denzel Aberdeen each sank two free throws to help the Gators hold Alabama at bay.
The Crimson Tide led 52-47 after Nelson’s basket with 16:19 left in the game before the Gators controlled the next 12-plus minutes.
Florida scored 10 of the next 13 points to take a 57-55 lead on Richard’s dunk with 14:10 remaining. Clayton followed with a three-point play to make it a five-point margin.
Condon later slammed home two dunks as Florida led 75-63 with 7:41 left.
Alabama twice moved within nine points before Haugh drained a 3-pointer to make it 85-73 with four minutes remaining.
Condon scored 12 points and Clayton had 10 as Florida held a 41-40 lead at the break. Sears scored 16 in the half for the Crimson Tide.
Martin’s trey with 31 seconds left gave Florida the one-point halftime lead.
–Field Level Media
