GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Interstat) — The Florida Gators, riding high in the Southeastern Conference standings, will look to continue their dominant season when they host the struggling South Carolina Gamecocks on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, at the O’Connell Center. The No. 12-ranked Gators (19-6, 9-3 SEC) enter on a three-game winning streak, including an impressive 92-83 victory over then-Kentucky last Saturday. Florida’s offense has been explosive, averaging 90.2 points per game in SEC play. A key catalyst is sophomore forward Alex Condon, who is coming off a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double against the Wildcats. In the teams’ first meeting this season, a 95-48 Florida rout in Columbia on Jan. 28, Condon dished out eight assists. Conversely, South Carolina (11-14, 2-10) has lost six straight games since its last win on Jan. 20. The Gamecocks are coming off an 89-75 loss at Alabama, where despite 21 points and six assists from guard Kobe Knox, they could not keep pace. Knox has been a bright spot, averaging 16.4 points over his last seven contests, but South Carolina has struggled defensively, allowing an average of 86.2 points during its losing skid. The matchup pits one of the conference’s most efficient offenses against its most porous defense. Florida leads the SEC in scoring margin in league games (+16.3), while South Carolina ranks last (-13.8). The Gators also dominated the boards in the January meeting, outrebounding the Gamecocks 48-26. For South Carolina to have a chance, it must find a way to slow Florida’s transition game and get a high-efficiency scoring night from Knox and backcourt mate Meechie Johnson, who scored 26 against Alabama. Florida will aim to leverage its size and depth, led by Condon and center Rueben Chinyelu, to control the paint and extend its homecourt advantage. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. EST. Following this game, Florida will travel to face Mississippi on Saturday, while South Carolina hosts Mississippi State.