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The Florida Gators (24-10) found themselves in a tight matchup in their SEC Tournament Semifinal matchup against the Texas A&M Aggies (20-14).

With both teams playing each other tight, it was clear that either team would need someone unexpected to step up.

And Florida sophomore guard Denzel Aberdeen was up to the task.

After playing limited minutes all season long, Aberdeen was employed by Gators coach Todd Golden to play crucial minutes, especially when UF fell behind by as many as 18 points in the first half.

But Aberdeen was not phased, scoring a team-high 20 points in his 22 minutes of game time.

It was also the sophomore’s career high in points scored, and it could not have come at a better time for the Gators, who needed all hands on deck to beat the relentless Aggies.

Despite heading into the half down eight, the Gators found their rhythm offensively in the second half, going on two massive runs of 15-4 and 16-5 respectively.

In what proved to be a foul-heavy matchup, the Gators were solid enough from the free throw line to secure the win 95-90 and book their spot in tomorrows’s SEC Championship game.

Alongside Aberdeen, four other Gators scored in double digits.

Senior guard Will Richard added 19 points, including four made three-pointers, while junior guard Walter Clayton Jr. had 16 points with five made threes.

Meanwhile, senior guard Zyon Pullin and senior forward Tyrese Samuel both added another 15 points for UF.

On the Texas A&M side, it was junior guard Wade Taylor IV who led the game in scoring with 30 points, 20 of which came in the game’s first half.

Three other Aggies scored in double digits, as senior guard Tyrece Radford and sophomore forward Solomon Washington both had 18 points each, while sophomore guard Manny Obaseki added 12.

The Gators will now play the 4-seeded Auburn Tigers (26-7) in the SEC Championship game Sunday at 1 p.m to determine who will go into Selection Sunday with the automatic bid and tons of momentum.

Florida and Auburn only matched up once this season, which was on Feb. 10. In that game, the Gators defeated the Tigers 81-65 at the Stephen O’Connell Center.