‘Really proud of our group’: Todd Golden reacts to comeback win at LSU

No. 2 Florida rallied from a halftime deficit and won for the fifth time this season, running away with a 79-65 comeback victory at LSU on Saturday. Five Gators scored in double figures, led by Rueben Chinyelu with a career-high 19 points along with 13 rebounds.

Here’s everything UF coach Todd Golden said after the victory over the Tigers.

RELATED: Takeaways from Florida Gators’ 79-65 win over LSU

Todd Golden Q&A

Opening statement: 

TODD GOLDEN: “Just a great win for us. I thought we came out playing very well. Obviously, got up to a big lead in the first half, and credit to LSU, I thought they pumped us for the back half of the first half. They went on a 22-to-2 run, made some big 3s, played with a lot of confidence, didn’t allow us to operate very comfortably offensively, which honestly, we’ve been pretty good that way. But they held us, I think, to two points for eight minutes or whatever it was. And at halftime, we had to recalibrate and make sure that we got back to defending, you’re trying to take care of the ball and doing the things that don’t require talent. In the second half, I thought we imposed our will on them a little bit. Much more efficient offensively, obviously, scoring 48 points. Defensively, I thought we drilled down, did a better job of taking away their high pick and roll game and getting out to shooters and making it uncomfortable for them to score. And a big part of this win for us tonight was just imposing our will on the glass. Plus-15 on the glass, gave ourselves some second chance opportunities, and limited their second chance opportunities compared to ours. So, great win for us, really proud of our group. And you know, now we got to get ready for Tuesday.”

On Rueben Chinyelu’s career-high game:

TODD GOLDEN: “Best game as a Gator for sure. 19 and 13, I thought he was — he did what we needed him to do the whole game. In the first half, I think he was plus seven or eight in a half that we were minus six overall, or he, I can’t remember what it was, but he was good. We were good when he was on the floor. We got hit with [Robert] Miller hitting a couple pick and pop 3s in the first half, and if my coaches are right, those were his second and third made 3s of the season. So, we got to live with that a little bit. But Rueben just did a great job imposing his will, finishing around the rim and just cleaning up the glass. He got us seven offensive rebounds, 19 points, two assists. Again, for him, he’s just improving so much in real time, and he’s given us a big lift over these last couple weeks.”

On Thomas Haugh’s performance:

TODD GOLDEN: “Yeah, honestly, I thought first half, he wasn’t playing as well as he normally does. You know, he usually keeps us in our offense, and he’s the guy that’s making winning play after winning play. And I challenged him at halftime to keep us more organized and to be more aggressive. We didn’t take him off the floor in the second half. He was a huge part of the way we played. And obviously he had some big-time drives, finishes, a couple of really nice dunks, another big 3 in front of our bench. And again, the one positive of Condo [Alex Condon] being out these last couple games is giving Tommy an opportunity to just go and play with a lot of freedom, knowing he was going to be on the floor for 30 minutes plus, and he’s done a great job taking that opportunity.”

On holding LSU’s Cam Carter to seven points:

TODD GOLDEN: “Yeah, he’s a great player. Obviously, he was a huge key to our scouting report. And the thing about Cam is he’s a really good individual offensive player that, at times, doesn’t need set actions or plays to be effective. He’s really good off the bounce, one on one. And I thought our guys did a great job of just making it hard on him, and every look he got was contested. We did a good job staying on his body, staying in his space. And obviously, I think we frustrated him a little bit. And we did a great job of making it hard on him. But he’s a great player, and I’m proud of our guys for what they did with him tonight.”

On guard Alijah Martin:

TODD GOLDEN: “Yeah, I mean, he’s been a huge reason as to why we’ve been so successful this year. It started in the summer when he got to our program, just a level of maturity and a level of intensity that he brought to us and to our summer workouts that kind of raised the bar for our program. And obviously he’s played at a really, really high level. All year he’s been hurt a little bit, little banged up, but he’s been playing better over the past two games, and before he got hurt he was playing like one of the 10 best players in the league, for sure. And it’s a luxury for myself and our staff to be able to trot out Walter [Clayton Jr.], Will [Richard] and Alijah every night, because these guys are seniors who have been through the wars. All played in the tournament, all have won a lot of games, all have had a lot of individual success. And as a coach, you just feel really confident having that group out there every night. And I thought Alijah did a great job in the second half, in his second rotation, of pushing the pace offensively, attacking the rim, hit that big 3 to put us up 10 off of Will’s steal in transition. The guy’s a great competitor. You know, he whether he’s off to a great start or not, he’s going to always compete and do everything he can to give yourselves the best chance to win. And I’m very fortunate to have him in our program. ”