GAINESVILLE — Florida lastly knocked off No. 1 at residence, the place the Gators have gotten unattainable to beat.
UF did it taking part in top-ranked Tennessee’s personal recreation.
Coach Todd Golden’s squad put the defensive clamps on Vols and by no means let up throughout a powerful 73-43 win Tuesday night time, extending the Gators’ successful streak to 16 video games within the O’Connell Heart — the place they’re 8-0 this season and successful by a mean of practically 30 factors.
Tennessee entered the nation’s final unbeaten and permitting an SEC-leading common of simply 55.9 factors, fewer than any group however Houston nationally. However Florida (14-1, 1-1 SEC) staked 12-0 lead, was forward 34-15 at halftime and coasted to ship the Vols their first defeat.
As a raucous sellout crowd of 11,011 appeared on, the Vols managed simply 4 first-half subject targets, whereas lacking all 14 3-point makes an attempt towards the Gators, who allowed Kentucky to shoot 58% from the sector — 48% from 3-point vary — throughout a 106-100 loss final Saturday.
The defensive effort allowed Florida to beat a scoreless first half by level guard Walter Clayton Jr., who was coming off a 33-point outing and averaging a team-high 18.3 factors.
The Gators needed to earn every part early towards Tennessee’s suffocating D, however scraped collectively a lead with hustle performs, aggressiveness in transition and three free throws by Denzel Aberdeen after he was fouled behind the arc.
The Vols didn’t rating till Felix Okpara hit a pair of free throws with 13:19 left within the first half made it 12-2. An Okpara alley-oop and two free throws by Jordan Gainey minimize UF’s result in six. However back-to-back 3s by Aberdeen and Richard pushed to benefit to 18-6.
Tennessee (14-1, 1-1) by no means received nearer than 10 factors and trailed by as many as 31 factors, at 58-27 with 7:34 remaining.
SEC-leading scorer Chaz Lanier managed simply 2 factors in the course of the first half, however hit a 3-pointer early within the second half after beginning 1 of 10 from the sector. Clayton, although, instantly answered with a 3 and his first factors of the night time.
With their offensive chief off his recreation, loads of Gators picked up the slack.
FAU switch Alijah Martin had a team-high 18 factors, Aberdeen, a junior and former Dr. Phillips standouts, completed with a season-high 16 factors, senior sophomore energy ahead Alex Condon had 12 factors and 12 rebounds, and sophomore middle Rueben Chinyelu had a career-high 15 rebounds.
The Gators, who had been 2.5-point favorites, moved to 3-17 all-time the Related Press’s No. 1 group, choosing up their first win because the 2007 nationwide title recreation towards Ohio State and first residence victory in six tries.
Edgar Thompson may be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com