Florida fell to Baylor 82-76 in overtime Sunday afternoon at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, opening its exhibition schedule with a loss in its first action since a heartbreaking second-round defeat to Iowa in the NCAA Tournament.
“There’s a reason why we play those exhibitions,” Florida coach Todd Golden said. “Obviously, we didn’t take advantage today.”
The Gators struggled to find their rhythm offensively, particularly from beyond the arc. Florida finished 4-for-29 from 3-point range, missing its first nine attempts and continuing a weakness that plagued the team last season. The Gators ranked 317th nationally in 3-point percentage in 2025-26.
“Offensively, I didn’t think we really found a rhythm,” Golden said. “One-for-13 from three in the first half; we left a lot of points on the board.”
Despite the shooting woes, Florida found a spark late in the first half, stringing together a 12-0 run to erase its deficit and take a three-point lead into the break.
Baylor responded after halftime, opening the second half with a 17-8 run behind Kayden Mingo and Isaac Williams IV to reclaim control of the game. Williams, one of the Bears’ few returning players, finished with 17 points while shooting 3-for-4 from downtown.
Florida couldn’t generate consistent offense throughout the second half but remained within striking distance by attacking the basket. Thomas Haugh led the Gators with 19 points, drawing fouls late in regulation to help Florida capitalize on the double bonus. The Gators, however, struggled at the free-throw line, shooting 63% for the game.
Down two with 15 seconds remaining, Florida got another opportunity when the Bears were called for a traveling violation. With a chance to tie or take the lead, the Gators turned to Denzel Aberdeen.
Making his return to Gainesville after transferring from Kentucky, Aberdeen delivered in the clutch, knocking down a contested jumper from the left baseline with 0.8 seconds remaining to tie the game and force overtime.
Aberdeen was the only new addition to Florida’s starting lineup. He returned for his fifth collegiate season after transferring back from Kentucky, with the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court of Alachua County granting him a temporary injunction in September.
In overtime, Boogie Fland briefly gave the Gators momentum, hitting a 3-pointer, forcing a deflection and drawing a foul on three consecutive possessions. But Baylor had the final say.
Kayden Mingo took over down the stretch, burying a clutch 3-pointer to give the Bears a five-point lead with 37 seconds remaining. The sophomore transfer from Penn State also scored eight points in the final five minutes of regulation to keep Baylor ahead, finishing with a game-high 31 points.
Florida’s strength on the glass helped keep the game competitive. The Gators collected 26 offensive rebounds and held a 22-15 advantage in second-chance points. However, their inability to convert consistently from the perimeter ultimately proved costly.
The bench also struggled to provide a spark. Florida’s reserves did not score until just over 11 minutes remained in the second half, and Baylor finished with a commanding 33-3 advantage in bench points.
C.J. Ingram was unavailable because of a back injury, while Golden used a reserve group that included A.J. Brown, Isaiah Brown and Urban Klavzar.
“I didn’t think they played well enough,” Golden said. “We gotta make shots too. That’s a big part of the game.”
Baylor overhauled its roster during the offseason under coach Scott Drew after missing the NCAA Tournament last season for the first time since 2018. The Mingo brothers, Dylan and Kayden, headlined the additions, with Kayden making an immediate impact against the Gators.
Sunday marked the second consecutive year the programs met in an exhibition. Last season’s matchup was a closed scrimmage in Orlando, but the teams opted for a televised exhibition this time around. Florida had previously held a closed scrimmage against North Florida, making Sunday the first opportunity for fans to see the 2026-27 Gators in action.
Florida entered the exhibition with expectations of contending for the nation’s No. 1 ranking, but its performance exposed areas that need improvement before the regular season begins. The Gators showed resilience by rallying late in regulation and dominating the offensive glass, but poor perimeter shooting and limited bench production prevented them from completing the comeback.
Up next, Florida has another exhibition game, this time at the Stephen O’Connell Center against in-state foe Stetson on Oct. 27.