Florida wasted no time asserting itself in the opening game of its national title defense, rolling past Prairie View A&M 114-55 on Friday night.
The 59-point margin of victory was the second-largest in NCAA tournament history, underscoring a dominant start for the defending champions.
Statement win to begin the run
From the opening tip, Florida controlled the game and steadily widened the gap, turning the matchup into a lopsided result by the final horn. The Gators’ 114 points and stifling defensive effort left Prairie View A&M unable to keep pace.
With the win, Florida advanced while adding a notable entry to the tournament record book, beginning its title defense with one of the most decisive victories the NCAA tournament has seen.