Florida Beats Miami 77-67 in Opener

Thomas Haugh and Rueben Chinyelu led Florida's season-opening win over Miami at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Basketball

Expressive sports illustration in bold orange, blue, and green team colors showing two basketball players contesting a loose ball on a hardwood court. — Florida defeated Miami 77-67 in the men's basketball season opener at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, with Thomas Haugh scoring 19 points. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Florida defeated Miami 77-67 in the men's basketball season-opener for both programs at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa. Thomas Haugh scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Florida, while Acaden Lewis led Miami with 24 points.

Why it matters

The result gives Florida an early-season win after a second-round NCAA Tournament exit to Iowa in March. Lewis's scoring in his first game since transferring from Villanova is an early indicator of his role for Miami.

Florida's 77-67 win was carried by Haugh's 19 points and 10 rebounds, with Chinyelu adding 14 rebounds inside. Lewis's 24 points were the most by any player in the game, and no season-long comparator is available in the source data.

The players

Thomas Haugh

Thomas Haugh is a Florida forward who led his team in scoring and rebounding in the season-opening win.

Acaden Lewis

Acaden Lewis is a Miami guard who scored 24 points in his first game after transferring from Villanova.

Michael Malone

Michael Malone is the North Carolina head coach who previously led the Denver Nuggets to the 2023 NBA championship.

The details

Florida won the game 77-67 at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida. North Carolina also opened its season under coach Michael Malone, beating Western Carolina in a closer-than-expected game on Monday night in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

March 22: Florida's season ended with a second-round NCAA Tournament loss to Iowa.
Monday night: North Carolina beat Western Carolina in Michael Malone's coaching debut.
November 3: Florida and Miami played their season-opener in Tampa.

Season Trajectory

North Carolina's season-opener under Michael Malone extends a coaching career that included the Denver Nuggets' 2023 NBA championship. Florida's win over Miami sets an early marker in a season that follows a second-round NCAA Tournament exit to Iowa in March.

Haugh's double-double and Chinyelu's 14 rebounds give Florida frontcourt production to track early in the season. Fantasy and betting followers should note Lewis's 24-point output as a fresh data point for Miami's scoring load.

The takeaway

Early-season box scores like Florida's 77-67 win offer useful signals about which players are carrying their teams' scoring and rebounding loads. Tracking those roles across the first few games can help readers judge how a roster is shaping up.