Alex Condon scores a career-high 23 points as No. 21 Florida tops Jacksonville 81-60

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) Alex Condon scored a career-high 23 points, Alijah Martin added 15 and No. 21 Florida beat Jacksonville 81-60 in its home opener Thursday night.

Will Richard chipped in 11 points, five rebounds and three steals for the Gators (2-0), who hit 21 of their first 30 shots and built a 20-point lead early in the second half. Florida cooled off down the stretch but were still too much for the Dolphins (1-1) on both ends of the floor.

With the victory, Florida extended its winning streak in home openers to 34. The program's last loss in a home opener was against Texas in 1990.

Robert McCray, who averaged a team-leading 18.4 points a game last season, set the pace for Jacksonville with 20 points.

Jacksonville: Coach Jordan Mincy returned to Gainesville for the first time since leaving former Gators coach Mike White's staff in 2021.

Florida: The Gators have a few legitimate scoring options after Condon's 23-point performance on Thursday and Walter Clayton Jr. 29 points in the team's season opener against USF.

The Gators used a 15-4 run midway through the first half to begin their rout. Martin scored eight points in the run, including hitting two 3s.

Clayton finished with seven assists and one turnover, a solid ratio for a shooting guard making the transition to the point.

Jacksonville plays at Furman on Monday, the same day Florida hosts Gambling State.

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