GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) \u2014 Rueben Chinyelu had 14 points and a career-high 21 rebounds, Alex Condon recorded 20 points and 11 boards for his third double-double of the season, and No. 10 Florida overwhelmed Merrimack from the opening tip in an 80-45 victory Friday night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The world\u2019s tallest teenager,\u00a07-foot-9 Olivier Rioux, got the loudest ovation of the night when he checked in with 2:26 to play. The tallest player in college basketball history got fouled the first time he touched the ball and hit a free throw. He also got his first rebound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was final November tune-up for the defending national champion Gators (4-1), who next play a Thanksgiving tournament on the West Coast and then have measuring-stick games against No. 5 Duke and third-ranked UConn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Florida had four players score in double figures, including Thomas Haugh (13) and Boogie Fland (10).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Gators dominated down low, as expected. They finished with 36 points in the paint and a 53-25 rebounding advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Florida players, coaches and support staff received their diamond-laced, oversized championship rings earlier in the week, and fans in attendance were given equally gaudy but far less expensive replica rings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Gators put on a show in front of a packed O\u2019Connell Center, scoring the first 11 points and later using a 19-0 run to take a 32-4 lead with eight minutes to play in the first half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Merrimack (2-4) battled back but was no match for Florida\u2019s size, speed and athleticism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kevair Kennedy led the Warriors with 14 points. Leading scorer Ernest Shelton, coming off a career-high 33 points and a school record-tying nine 3-pointers, missed his first six shots and fouled out with three points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Florida played without backup center Micah Handlogten, who was held out as a precaution after sustaining a concussion against Miami last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Merrimack plays at Penn next Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Florida plays TCU on Thursday in San Diego, part of the Rady Children\u2019s Invitational.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"