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Richard scores a career-high 26 and helps No. 7 Florida beat UNF 99-45 to reach 12-0

Byline: Mark Long

Richard scores a career-high 26 and helps No. 7 Florida beat UNF 99-45 to reach 12-0 | iNFOnews.ca
Florida guard Will Richard (5) drives against North Florida guard Ametri Moss (55) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood)
Original Publication Date: December 21, 2024 11:09AM
Publication Updated: April 11, 2025 4:21AM

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Will Richard scored a career-high 26 points, three teammates notched double-doubles and No. 7 Florida remained undefeated with a 99-45 victory over North Florida on Saturday.

Richard made 9 of 12 shots from the floor, including 6 of 8 shots from 3-point range, and finished with five rebounds, two steals and two assists.

Sam Alexis chipped in 14 points and 12 rebounds. Alex Condon had 12 points and 10 boards. And Thomas Haugh finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds for Florida.

The Gators (12-0) extended their best start since beginning the 2005-06 season with 17 consecutive wins. They won this one with relative ease, scoring the first 10 points of the game and closing the first half with a 14-0 run.

The Ospreys (7-6) lost for the fourth time in six outings in December and played their second straight game without leading scorer Josh Harris (ankle).

Richard scores a career-high 26 and helps No. 7 Florida beat UNF 99-45 to reach 12-0 | iNFOnews.ca
Florida guard Will Richard (5) drives against North Florida guard Ametri Moss (55) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood)

Jasai Miles and Liam Murphy led North Florida with 13 points apiece.

Takeaways

North Florida: After stunning South Carolina and Georgia Tech in the first week of the season, the Ospreys have taken a huge step back. They need to get Harris healthy to have a chance in the ASUN Conference.

Florida: Coming off an adversity-filled victory over North Carolina and with the holidays looming, the Gators avoided a letdown and dominated another inferior opponent.

Key moment

Richard scores a career-high 26 and helps No. 7 Florida beat UNF 99-45 to reach 12-0 | iNFOnews.ca
North Florida guard Dante Oliver (5) drives on Florida guard Will Richard, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood)

The Gators set the tone in the opening minute with back-to-back 3s from Walter Clayton Jr. and Richard. It started a 10-0 spurt that was one of three double-digit runs in the first half.

Key stat

Florida finished with a program-record-tying 26 offensive rebounds, giving the team 188 on the season.

Up next

North Florida hosts Austin Peay on Jan. 2. Florida hosts Stetson on Sunday, Dec. 29.

Richard scores a career-high 26 and helps No. 7 Florida beat UNF 99-45 to reach 12-0 | iNFOnews.ca
Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. warms up before an NCAA college basketball game against North Florida Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood)
Richard scores a career-high 26 and helps No. 7 Florida beat UNF 99-45 to reach 12-0 | iNFOnews.ca
North Florida guard Ametri Moss (55), drives on Florida forward Alex Condon (21) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood)
Richard scores a career-high 26 and helps No. 7 Florida beat UNF 99-45 to reach 12-0 | iNFOnews.ca
North Florida guard Jasai Miles (0) drives around Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood)
Richard scores a career-high 26 and helps No. 7 Florida beat UNF 99-45 to reach 12-0 | iNFOnews.ca
North Florida guard Jasai Miles (0) tries to poses the ball under pressure from Florida guard Will Richard (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood)

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Mark Long

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