Baylor Defeats Florida 82-76 in Exhibition Match

Mingo, who transferred from Penn State, shot nine of 15 from the field, making two of four from beyond the arc and hitting 11 of 15 free throws. He also contributed eight rebounds and four assists. After trailing early in overtime, Baylor went on a critical 6-0 run, capped by Mingo’s crucial three-pointer, giving them a five-point lead with 37 seconds remaining.

The first half was marked by poor shooting, particularly for Florida, which finished with an overall shooting percentage of 34.7%. The Gators struggled significantly from three-point range, hitting only four of their 29 attempts (13.8%), and managed 22 of 35 from the free-throw line (62.9%). In contrast, Baylor shot 45.5% for the game, including 41.2% from three-point territory, and recorded a free-throw percentage of 78.1%.

Florida senior forward Thomas Haugh led his team with 19 points and five rebounds before fouling out in overtime. Fifth-year guard Denzel Aberdeen scored 15 points but struggled from the field, shooting 3-for-17 overall and 0-for-10 from three-point range. Urban Klavzar, recognized as the 2026 Southeastern Conference Sixth Man of the Year, had a disappointing game, finishing 0-for-7 from the field.

Florida briefly led 51-47 with under nine minutes left in regulation but lost momentum as Baylor retook the lead. Despite falling behind late, the Gators managed to tie the game with a last-second shot from Aberdeen, forcing overtime.

The turning point came in overtime when Baylor forward Evan Chatman missed a three-point attempt. Freshman Dylan Mingo retrieved the ball and assisted his brother Kayden, who hit a pivotal three to extend their lead.

The Gators, who received just three points from their bench, will look to rebound in their next exhibition game against Stetson on October 27, ahead of the season opener against Miami on November 2.