Florida Gators Dominate Texas A&M to Take First Place in SEC

Gators' guards, defense, and center Rueben Chinyelu's double-double lead to commanding road victory.

Feb. 8, 2026 at 9:55am

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The No. 17 Florida Gators defeated the Texas A&M Aggies 86-67 on the road to take first place in the SEC standings. The Gators' guards Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee controlled the game, the defense stifled the Aggies' offense, and center Rueben Chinyelu recorded another double-double.

Why it matters

This win on the road against a conference rival puts the Gators in first place in the SEC standings, a key position as the team makes a push towards the NCAA tournament. Florida's dominant performance showcases their potential as a top team in the conference.

The details

Florida's guards Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee combined for just two turnovers while leading the Gators' attack against the Aggies' full-court press. The Gators' defense held Texas A&M to just 22-of-72 shooting and forced nine turnovers. Center Rueben Chinyelu had 10 points and 15 rebounds, becoming only the third player in Florida history to record at least 250 rebounds in back-to-back seasons.

  • The Gators' win over the Aggies took place on Saturday, February 8, 2026.

The players

Rueben Chinyelu

Florida Gators starting center who recorded a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds in the win.

Boogie Fland

Florida Gators guard who had 9 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds while helping the Gators break the Aggies' press.

Xaivian Lee

Florida Gators guard who scored 10 points with 3 assists and 3 rebounds, also contributing to the Gators' success against the Aggies' defense.

Todd Golden

Head coach of the Florida Gators, who praised his team's performance in the dominant road win.

Rashaun Agee

Texas A&M Aggies' best player, who was held to 8 points on 2-of-13 shooting by Rueben Chinyelu's defense.

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What they’re saying

“Incredibly proud of my team. I thought our guys did a great job for 40 minutes defending, rebounding, taking care of the ball, and playing with great poise. Led to a commanding victory.”

— Todd Golden, Head Coach, Florida Gators

“Our ability to not only take care of the ball, but really advance it and attack in transition led to a lot of runouts and dunks for us in the second half.”

— Todd Golden, Head Coach, Florida Gators

“When they start that way, there's a little luck involved in that, also. But I think big-picture-wise, our guys did a really good job of getting them to take the shots that we wanted them to take.”

— Todd Golden, Head Coach, Florida Gators

What’s next

The Gators will look to continue their strong conference play as they aim to secure a top seed in the SEC tournament and make a deep run in the NCAA tournament.

The takeaway

Florida's dominant road win over Texas A&M showcases the Gators as a force to be reckoned with in the SEC this season, led by their stifling defense, efficient guard play, and the commanding presence of center Rueben Chinyelu.