MBB Earns Overtime Exhibition Win Over Top-Preseason Pick Florida, 82-76

Sunday, October 18

Jacksonville, Fla.

1 pm

Baylor

0-0,0-0Big 12

Florida (EXH)

0-0,0-0SEC

Team	1	2	OT 1	F
Baylor	25	43	14	82
Florida	28	40	8	76

Box Score (PDF)

MBB Earns Overtime Exhibition Win Over Top-Preseason Pick Florida, 82-76

10/18/2026 5:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Game Book (PDF)

Kayden Mingo leads BU with 31 points in preseason test

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In an exhibition neutral site test, Baylor men's basketball took down the predicted preseason No. 1 team of Florida, 82-76, in overtime on Sunday afternoon at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville. The Bears were led by sophomore transfer Kayden Mingo, who ended the day with 31 points, including nine in overtime, to kickstart their season.

Mingo added eight rebounds and four assists, shooting 9-for-15 from the field and 11-for-15 at the free-throw line. Isaac Williams IV contributed 17 points, including three 3-pointers, and Dylan Mingo finished with 12 points and eight rebounds.

The Bears outperformed the Florida bench 33-3, led by Williams IV and Isaac Celiscar who combined for 22 points. In the overtime period, BU made 9 of 10 free throws and outscored Florida 14-8 in the extra period.

THE RUNDOWN
It was a battle of defenses in the first half, with both teams limited in scoring. The Baylor defense held UF to a scoring drought over seven minutes coming out of the first media timeout. The Gators were limited to one of the last 14 baskets before picking up slight momentum, en route to even the score, 13-12.

While the defense kept the Gators on their toes, Baylor couldn't convert on its side of the court, ensuing a six-minute scoring drought. Florida took advantage of the drought, going on a 12-0 run and extending a 14-22 lead. Baylor answered by scoring nine of the half's final 11 points, trimming Florida's halftime lead to 28-25.

Coming out of the half, BU put up five quick points to get the Bears going. Baylor shot 52-percent in the second half, contributing to the tight contest with seven lead changes and six periods where the Bears and Gators were tied up in the second period.

Florida built a 51-47 lead with a 13-3 run, but BU responded with an 8-0 run of its own, with Williams IV nailing a three-pointer in transition with the assist from K. Mingo to take the lead back 57-53. With the score of 61-58, the Bears were holding Florida to one of last nine field goals with 3:45 left.

With 0.8 on the clock, Florida's Denzel Aberdeen hit a jumper to tie the game 68-all and force overtime.

The first points of overtime were brought by two made free-throws from Dylan Mingo. The Mingo brothers took over, contributing all but two points in the extra period. The Bears made 9 of 10 free throws in overtime and outscored Florida 14-8 in the extra period to earn the preseason win.

HIGHLIGHTS
• The Bears outshot the Gators, 45% to 35%, and limited UF to just 14% from three-point range while also shooting 41% from deep.
• Baylor held Florida to just 28 points in the first half – the Gators were held to 30 points or fewer in the first half just twice during the 2025-26 season.
• The Bears outrebounded the Gators 28-21 in the second half and overtime, including an 8-2 advantage in OT.
• 61 of Baylor's 82 points were scored by newcomers.
• Baylor's bench outscored Florida's 33-3.
• 12 of BU's final 14 points and 21 of the last 25 points were scored by the Mingo brothers, with Kayden dropping 15 and Dylan adding six since the 4:35 mark in the second half.
• Sophomore guard Kayden Mingo scored a game-high 31 points, finishing 9-of-15 from the field and adding an 11-of-15 mark from the free throw line.
• K. Mingo reached double figures 21 times last season at Penn State.
• Junior guard Isaac Williams (15) and freshman guard Dylan Mingo (12) also put up double-digit points in BU's win.
• Williams topped double digits in points 19 times in the 2025-26 campaign for the Bears.

WHAT'S NEXT
Baylor travels to Urbana-Champaign, Illinois to play its final exhibition game on Friday, Oct. 23. The Bears officially open the 2026-27 season on Nov. 2 against Northwestern State at Foster Pavilion.

- BaylorBears.com -