No. 16 Florida Defeats LSU 79-61 on Chinyelu's 21 Rebounds

In Gainesville, Florida, the 16th-ranked Gators secured a 79-61 victory over LSU on Tuesday night, extending their winning streak to five games and their home dominance to 16 straight triumphs. Rueben Chinyelu anchored the win with 15 points and a career-high 21 rebounds, marking his fourth consecutive double-double and the first such streak for a Florida player in two decades.

Chinyelu's performance tied the school record for consecutive double-doubles, matching David Lee's feat from 2005, and represented his second 20-rebound game of the season, a milestone achieved by only two other Gators in program history. The 6-foot-10 junior from Nigeria dominated the glass, helping Florida outrebound LSU 50-30 overall. His efforts in the second half were particularly decisive, where he tallied 13 points and 15 rebounds before exiting with 5:29 remaining and the Gators leading by 21.

Florida built momentum late in the first half, overcoming early shooting struggles by hitting three 3-pointers in three minutes to forge a 38-26 halftime lead. Thomas Haugh capped the surge with the final six points, including a buzzer-beater from beyond the arc. The Gators maintained control after the...