The No. 15 Tennessee Volunteers went into Sunday’s game in search of a much-needed win in the Southeastern Conference.
It didn’t happen.
The No. 11 Florida Gators (18-5, 8-4 SEC) held off a late second-half comeback by the Vols (18-8, 5-7) for an 88-82 victory in Thompson-Boling Arena.
It got a little too close for comfort there at the end, Florida coach Billy Donovan said. They made a run just like we knew they would.
UT did outscore Florida in the paint, 48-30, and dominated the Gators in second-chance points, 16-3. However, the woes continued for the slipping Volunteers as they dropped their fourth game in a row the seventh loss in the last nine games.
The Gator backcourt duo of Brett Nelson and Teddy Dupay burned the nets for 25 and 22 points, respectively, while hitting all 10 of the Gators’ 3-point shots.
I didn’t think we played the 3-point shot well, Vol head coach Jerry Green said. We tried to press full court and I thought that cost us early with two or three open looks by Nelson and Dupay.
The return of Tony Harris to the lineup lacked the hype that the Vols were looking for as the senior guard went 2-of-8 from the floor for six points. He was also credited with five turnovers.
Enter Harris Walker and Terrence Woods.
Woods stepped in and made 5-of-6 from behind the arc for 16 points in only 12 minutes of action.
Walker saw 20 minutes on the floor and stepped up for 13 points and six assists in the losing cause. Walker’s presence in the closing minutes brought the Vols within reach.
I think Harris Walker is playing a well as anybody we’ve got on the team right now, Green said. I thought he ran the club awfully well and gave us a great presence defensively.
He’s been maturing these last couple of weeks and we’ll have to give him a long look as a possible starter.
Florida had an 83-72 lead with 1:12 to play when Ron Slay hit a layup in the paint to trim the deficit to nine points.
Slay then intercepted a pass and dished to Vincent Yarbrough for a 3-pointer from the right corner with 52.9 seconds left.
Yarbrough led the Vols with 20 points and 13 rebounds.
After a Dupay free throw, Harris Walker drove around the Gator defense for a layup to make it 84-79. Walker then picked up his fourth foul and UF’s Matt Bonner made one of his two free throws for an 85-79 margin.
Walker continued his hot streak when he nailed a 3 from the right wing to make it a three-point game with 33.5 seconds left.
I was just trying to take what the defense gave me, Walker said.
Nelson’s free throw on the ensuing possession and Udonis Haslem’s open dunk halted the Tennessee comeback as UT’s final shots rimmed out.
We gave ourselves, at least, a look at it, Green said. I thought our effort was good enough.
Florida’s got a fine team and they played awfully good in the first half.
After Jon Higgins found Ron Slay for a jam in the paint, the Vols saw their only lead of the game at 2-0.
A 3-pointer by Nelson set the tone for the game as Dupay followed with consecutive longballs for a 9-4 Gator lead.
Tennessee kept within reach as Woods drained two 3s to tie the game at 20. However, Florida rebuilt its lead to 43-33 at the half.
