'Winning player': Condon is 'Golden' as Gators advance

• Every Australian in NCAAM basketball in 2025-26
• Every Australian in NCAAW basketball in 2025-26
• Latest News: Australia's most comprehensive college basketball coverage

🇦🇺 Florida Gators 70, Kentucky Wildcats 63 (21–12)

SEC Tournament - Quarterfinal — Exactech Arena, Gainesville

Game Snapshot
Half-by-Half Scores: Kentucky 28–37, 35–33
Largest Lead: Florida by 12

Florida built a first-half buffer through interior control and rebounding volume before Kentucky narrowed the margin late. The Gators managed clock and free-throw possessions in the final minutes to close.

Florida forward Alex Condon delivered a starring two-way performance, producing a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double as the Gators defeated Kentucky 70–63 on March 14, 2026 (AEDT). The Perth product was central to Florida’s early separation, scoring efficiently around the rim and drawing repeated contact.

"I think I started aggressive in the first half, you know, just set a tone with the physicality," Condon said.

"They played two games before us, so this was our first one and it took a little bit of getting used to.

"I think we’re going to hit a few more shots tomorrow and just keep playing hard.

"They played two games before us, so this was our first one and it took a little bit of getting used to.

"I think we’re going to hit a few more shots tomorrow and just keep playing hard.

Condon described his connection with guard Xaivian Lee.

"That’s just getting reps up with him," he added.

"I mean, in the summertime that’s all it was. X is such a good passer out of both ends. I feel like he kind of knows where I’m going to be in transition especially.

"We had a little run where he threw a few in a row and yeah, he’s a great passer and all-around player."

Condon logged 36 minutes and shot 7-from-12 from the field and 8-of-11 from the free-throw line, adding two assists and two blocks. He also secured five offensive rebounds as Florida dominated the glass 50–29, generating second-chance scoring opportunities that stabilised the game during Kentucky’s late push.

Thomas Haugh added 13 points and eight rebounds, while Rueben Chinyelu contributed 10 rebounds. Kentucky was led by Denzel Aberdeen’s 17 points, but the Wildcats shot 36% from the field and 22% from three, limiting their ability to erase the deficit.

"He’s just a hooper," Haugh said of Condon.

"He’s going to go out there and play his hardest. I think since freshman year he’s been playing his hardest. You saw out there today — man, how powerful he was.

I was just proud of him. He’s getting buckets down there. You just got to feed him and find him, and the ball’s going to go in if he’s back there."

Gators head coach Todd Golden explained what Condon meant to the Gators bid to go back-to-back National Championships.

"He’s just a fantastic winning player," Golden said.

"He came into the season with a lot of expectation and honestly I feel like everybody was a little harsh in their criticism of him earlier in the year.

"He wasn’t shooting the three-ball well, but he was making a lot of winning plays.

"Honestly, the Auburn game might have been a blessing in disguise for him. We talked about, hey, don’t worry about the perimeter shooting — just go back to being the hardest-playing dude on the floor.

"He has great basketball IQ, great touch around the rim, easy to play through offensively."

By the Numbers
Florida: FG 38% │ 3PT 15% │ FT 73% │ Rebounds 50 │ Assists 11 │ Turnovers 18
Kentucky: FG 36% │ 3PT 22% │ FT 80% │ Rebounds 29 │ Assists 9 │ Turnovers 12

🇦🇺 Box Scores
Alex Condon (Florida) — 36 mins │ 22 pts │ 10 reb │ 2 ast │ 2 blk │ FG 7-12 │ 3PT 0-1 │ FT 8-11

Prairie View A&M 74, 🇦🇺 Alabama A&M 55 (Final)

SWAC Tournament Semifinal

Junior forward Angok Anyang recorded four points and four rebounds in 11 minutes as Alabama A&M fell 74–55 to Prairie View A&M in the SWAC Tournament Semifinal.

Prairie View A&M created separation through sustained scoring across both halves while limiting Alabama A&M’s offensive production in the elimination loss. Anyang converted both of his field goal attempts and added one assist as the Bulldogs exited the tournament.

Angok Anyang – Junior Forward – Alabama A&M Bulldogs – Adelaide, SA – 2.06 m

• Points: 4 │ Rebounds: 4 │ Assists: 1 │ Steals: 0 │ Blocks: 0 │ Turnovers: 0 │ FG: 2–2 │ 3PT: 0–0 │ FT: 0–0 │ Minutes: 11

🇦🇺 Wisconsin 91, Illinois 88 (OT) (Final)

Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinal

Sophomore forward Austin Rapp recorded eight points, nine rebounds and four assists in 39 minutes as Wisconsin defeated Illinois 91–88 in overtime in the Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinal on March 14.

Wisconsin held composure in the extra period to secure the three-point win after the teams were level at the end of regulation. Rapp hit two three-pointers and converted both free throw attempts while playing extended minutes as the Badgers advanced to the semifinal.

Austin Rapp – Sophomore Forward – Wisconsin Badgers – Melbourne, VIC – 2.08 m

• Points: 8 │ Rebounds: 9 │ Assists: 4 │ Steals: 0 │ Blocks: 0 │ Turnovers: 0 │ FG: 2–9 │ 3PT: 2–8 │ FT: 2–2 │ Minutes: 39

Saturday, March 14, 2026 (AEDT)

• 9:30AM — 🇦🇺 Purdue vs Nebraska
  — Oscar Cluff (Sr)
• 2:30PM — Cal State Fullerton vs 🇦🇺 Hawai‘i
  — Harry Rouhliadeff (Sr)