Talk about a tale of two halves to this week. After going stone cold from the field and being unusually susceptible on defense in a 78-73 loss to Kentucky on Tuesday night, the #8 Tennessee Volunteers answered the bell in a huge way on Saturday afternoon at the Food City Center at Thompson-Boling Arena, toppling the #5 Florida Gators 64-44.
Tennessee fans found out on Saturday morning that UT would be without both Zakai Zeigler and Igor Milicic, Jr. Zeigler is still dealing with the knee injury he suffered against Kentucky, and Milicic has been dealing with flu-like symptoms.
As it turned out, that wasn’t a problem.
Chaz Lanier returned to form, totaling 19 points and 5 rebounds on 6/14 shooting with a handful of big three pointers to help bury Florida in the second half. Jordan Gainey also delivered with 16 points and 4 boards. Felix Okpara came up big in the paint with 10 points and 8 rebounds.
Conversely, Florida had one player reach double digits – guard Walter Clayton, Jr. – who had 10 points on 3/13 shooting.
The two teams slogged it out for most of the first half, with Florida holding a one-possession lead for the majority of a close, back and forth first half. The Vols took their first lead at 14-13 on a Lanier three with 8 minutes left in the half, but Florida would regain the lead by a possession and hold it until a minute left in the half, when Lanier knocked down another three to give Tennessee the lead back at 21-19. A Cade Phillips dunk and free throw gave the Vols the lead going into the locker room at 24-21. A defensive masterclass, but one that saw a shaky Tennessee offense without two of their best players keeping the game tight.
Tennessee finally pushed out to a comfortable lead just two minutes into the second half at 30-21 after Gainey knocked down a mid-range jumper. Jahmai Mashack gave Tennessee their first double-digit lead at 36-26 on a layup. After two Florida three throws cut the lead, Okpara gave Tennessee a double-digit lead again that they wouldn’t relinquish after a short lay in followed by two free throws on the next possession. Three pointers by Gainey – a wild contested fall away shot into the corner – and Lanier gave Tennessee a 13-point lead with around 10 minutes left.
But it was Tennessee’s defense that was perhaps at its best of the season on Saturday that really helped Tennessee pull away. Florida scored, almost exactly on average, 11 points for each 10 minute period of the game. In a game of runs and with as much talent as Florida has, that’s a Herculean team effort, particularly in the paint, where Tennessee got whipped in their 73-43 loss to the Gators in Gainesville back on January 7.
With Florida’s offense in neutral, the Vols slammed in the dagger with under 8 minutes left on a Cade Phillips dunk on a fast break, triggered by a nifty steal and outlet pass up the court by Mashack while falling out of bounds.
OHHH THEM BOYS HOOPIN NOW
ESPN
https://t.co/lhCyaX19Zh pic.twitter.com/EJGYqJTzsf— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) February 1, 2025
Another Lanier three gave Tennessee the lead back at 55-35, and from there Tennessee would cruise the rest of the way to the finish line.
Again, an incredible effort given Tennessee played without two of their best players and with only 7 scholarship players.
And it’s a win that should look terrific on Tennessee’s resume once Selection Sunday rolls around.