Despite missing two starters in Saturday’s top-10 matchup against No. 5 Florida, No. 8 Tennessee used a massive second-half attack to knock off the Gators, 64-44, and get back up above .500 in conference play.
The Vols (18-4, 5-4 SEC) were without both senior guard Zakai Zeigler (knee injury) and senior forward Igor Milicic Jr. (illness), but ultimately, that didn’t matter.
Tennessee outscored Florida, 40-23, in the second half and never trailed after the 1:07 mark in the first half.
Senior guard Chaz Lanier stepped up for the Vols, scoring 19 points and going 5-for-9 from three-point range. Lanier’s 19 points were his most in the last three games and were much needed for Tennessee without Zeigler and Milicic.
Senior guard Jordan Gainey was inserted into the starting lineup and played exceptionally well, finishing with 16 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals. Junior forward Felix Okpara was also in double figures, finishing with 10 points and eight rebounds.
Florida (18-3, 5-3 SEC) was without its star, senior guard Walter Clayton Jr., for a majority of the second half due to an ankle injury.
The Gators shot just 4-for-27 (14.8%) from three, their worst three-point shooting performance of the season.
Clayton led Florida in scoring with 10 points despite missing most of the second half. No other player was in double figures for the Gators, as the team made just 13 total shots from the field.
The win for Tennessee was much needed, as the Vols avoided a three-game losing streak.
Florida’s loss was its worst of the season and first since Jan. 14 against Missouri. The Gators will need to bounce back in a hurry, as their next three games are against top-25 opponents.
