Gators Star Rueben Chinyelu Sets New Program Record in NCAA Tournament Victory
Rueben Chinyelu delivered a dominant performance in the paint as Florida Gators men’s basketball cruised past Prairie View A&M Panthers men’s basketball in the NCAA Tournament.
In Friday’s Round of 64 matchup in Tampa, Florida rolled to a 114-55 victory, with Chinyelu recording his 19th double-double of the season—finishing with 13 points and 14 rebounds. That mark sets a new program record, surpassing Bob Smyth, who had 18 during the 1975-76 season.
The junior from Nigeria had already tied the record on March 3 with an 11-point, 16-rebound outing in a win over Mississippi State Bulldogs men’s basketball. Following that performance, he received congratulations from Smyth’s family, something Chinyelu said meant a great deal to him as he continues to honor the former record-holder.
Averaging 11.2 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, Chinyelu has been a key force in Florida’s dominant frontcourt this season. That dominance was on full display against Prairie View A&M, as the Gators set program NCAA Tournament records with 114 points and 29 assists. Their 59-point margin of victory ranks as the second-largest in tournament history. Florida also overwhelmed the Panthers 64-10 in the paint and controlled the glass with a 54-20 rebounding edge, with Chinyelu leading all players with 13 boards.
Head coach Todd Golden praised Chinyelu’s impact, noting his ability to wear down opponents, control rebounds, and spark transition offense. Golden emphasized that Chinyelu is at his best when he plays aggressively in the paint and on the boards.
Chinyelu’s standout 2025-26 campaign now includes multiple program records. Earlier this season, he broke Dwayne Davis’s single-season offensive rebounding mark of 114 and has already reached 137 through 34 games.
Florida’s dominant tournament opener comes after a challenging showing in the SEC Tournament, and it stands out even more as other No. 1 seeds like Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball and Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball faced tougher-than-expected matchups against 16-seeds. Still, as defending champions, the Gators remain a prime target.
Chinyelu, however, made it clear the team isn’t dwelling on last year’s title, emphasizing that this is a new group focused solely on the current opportunity to win another championship.
Florida continues its tournament run Sunday against the nine-seed Iowa Hawkeyes men’s basketball, with tip-off scheduled for 7:10 p.m. on TBS.
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