GAINESVILLE, FL (352today.com) – UPDATE, 9:30 p.m.: The University of Florida extended its home-winning streak against the Auburn University Saturday afternoon beating the Tigers 65-81.

Florida controlled the game from the start and didn’t let up. Coach Todd Golden’s team had lost three games this season (Wake Forest, Texas A&M and Kentucky) after leading at halftime and squandered huge leads before ultimately beating Georgia and Mississippi State late last month.

UP NEXT: Florida hosts LSU on Tuesday.

PREVIOUSLY, 11:28 a.m.: The Gators basketball team will host the Auburn Tigers in the Exactech Arena on Saturday.

Florida has had the week off and will need lots of energy and momentum to dominate the Tigers who just got a huge win over the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Auburn is ranked second in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and holds the 12th spot in the top 25, according to ESPN, they’ve only lost two times since conference play, and four times overall.

The Gators are hoping to redeem themselves after breaking their four-game winning streak with a tough loss in College Station losing to the Aggies 66-67.

Overall, the Gators have improved their SEC ranking since the beginning of conference play holding the seventh spot. They’ve lost seven games this season with four of those losses being in SEC play.

It’s been a minute since the Gators and Tigers have faced off with their last matchup being in Auburn on December 28, 2022. Florida lost that contest 58-61.

The Tigers are on a three-game winning streak and will be looking to make it four.

Head coach Todd Golden shared in a news conference Friday he is no stranger to Auburn and the competitiveness they bring.

“I think they’re playing like the best team in our league right now,” said Golden. “I don’t want to say it’s not close, but I think they’ve kind of separated themselves.”

Golden is no stranger to Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl and how he runs his program. He was an assistant coach under Pearl’s leadership from 2014-2016.

Players to watch

Florida

Walter Clayton leads the team with 15.9 points per game. He also averages 3.6 rebounds and 2.7 per contest, according to ESPN. Clayton is shooting nearly 43 percent from the floor and 36.6 percent from the three-point line.

Tyrese Samuel is averaging 8.4 rebounds per game leading his squad. He also is putting up 13.3 points and 1.7 assists, per contest. He’s shooting 57.7 percent from the floor and 20 percent from beyond the arc.

Zyon Pullin leads the team averaging 5.1 assists per contest. Pullin is also contributing 15.4 points on average per game and 3.7 rebounds, shooting nearly 44 percent from the field and nearly 40 percent from downtown.

Auburn

Johni Broom leads Auburn with 16.0 points on average per game. He also averages a team-leading 8.7 rebounds per game and has 2.0 assists per game. Broom shots 55.5 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent beyond the arc.

Jaylin Williams averages 5.2 rebounds, 13.3 points, and 2.0 assists. Williams shoots 59.8 from the field and 40 percent from downtown.

Chad Baker-Mazara contributes 9.5 points per game, along with 3.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He is shooting 43.6 percent from the floor and 39.1 percent from the three-point line.

The game will air on SEC Network starting at 3:30 p.m. eastern time.