In a stunning matchup on Tuesday night, the No. 8 Florida Gators triumphed over the top-ranked Tennessee Volunteers with a commanding score of 73-43. Alijah Martin led the charge for Florida with 18 points, while Denzel Aberdeen contributed 16 points. This victory not only marked the Gators’ first win against a No. 1 ranked team at home in six attempts but also extended their impressive home win streak to 16 games. Florida’s record now stands at 14-1 overall, and 1-1 in Southeastern Conference play.
One of the standout performers for the Gators was Alex Condon, who delivered a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, marking his second such achievement this season. From the outset, Florida displayed dominance, opening the game with a 12-point run while the Volunteers struggled, missing their initial nine attempts. By halftime, Tennessee found themselves down by a daunting 36 points, having made only four baskets in the first 20 minutes of play.
Chaz Lanier, a player who spent four seasons at North Florida before joining Tennessee, managed to score 10 points, although he struggled with his shooting, completing just three of his 16 attempts. The Volunteers, usually recognized for their strong defensive prowess, failed to translate that effectiveness to their offense.
For Florida, an unfortunate aspect of the evening involved the ticketing situation, which resulted in many of their student supporters—the “Rowdy Reptiles”—being seated in the upper deck for what was arguably a pivotal home game due to the selling of tickets as part of a three-game holiday package.
A significant moment during the game came when Aberdeen and Will Richard each sank a three-pointer back-to-back, turning a six-point Gator lead into a 13-point advantage. This offensive burst electrified the home crowd and set the tone as Florida continued to build on their lead.
Statistically, Florida had something to prove after a previous game against Kentucky where they allowed the Wildcats to make 14 three-pointers in a narrow 106-100 loss. In contrast, against Tennessee, the Gators limited the Volunteers to only 4 of 29 shooting from beyond the arc, showcasing a remarkable defensive turnaround.
Looking ahead, Tennessee will face Texas on Saturday, while Florida is set to take on Arkansas later that evening.
