Live Blog: No. 5 Florida Gators vs. No. 8 Tennessee Volunteers
The No. 5 Florida Gators are on a mission to secure their first victory in Knoxville since 2014, as they face off against the No. 8 Tennessee Volunteers in a highly anticipated top-10 showdown.
The Gators come into this matchup fresh off a dominant 73-43 win against the Vols earlier this month, when they stunned Tennessee, who was ranked No. 1 at the time.
This game marks the 142nd meeting between Florida and Tennessee.
Historically, the Volunteers lead the series with a record of 81-60, but Florida has struggled in Knoxville, managing just 17 wins in 51 tries on Tennessee’s home court. Gators’ head coach Todd Golden holds a 2-1 record against Tennessee’s Rick Barnes in their past matchups.
Stay tuned for live updates as Florida and Tennessee battle it out.
Florida vs. Tennessee Live Blog:
SCORE UPDATE: FLORIDA 17, TENNESSEE 16 (3:20 1H)
Both teams are struggling with their shooting early on. Florida has managed to stifle Tennessee’s offense, holding them without a field goal for over four minutes since the last media timeout.
However, the Gators have been plagued by turnovers, committing seven so far in the first half. Tennessee’s shooting woes continue as well, leaving the game tightly contested.
SCORE UPDATE: TENNESSEE 14, FLORIDA 13 (7:06 1H)
The Volunteers have claimed their first lead of the game after Chaz Lanier sank Tennessee’s first 3-pointer, ending an 0-for-7 stretch from beyond the arc.
Florida has gone cold offensively, failing to score for almost five minutes, missing six straight shots during that dry spell. This has allowed the Volunteers to gain a slight edge.
SCORE UPDATE: FLORIDA 13, TENNESSEE 9 (11:12 1H)
Florida has found some rhythm, with Sam Alexis contributing four points off the bench, hitting back-to-back mid-range jumpers. Walter Clayton Jr. has also been pivotal for the Gators, draining two 3-pointers to lead the team with eight points. Meanwhile, Tennessee continues to struggle from deep, still stuck at 0-for-6 from beyond the arc.
SCORE UPDATE: FLORIDA 6, TENNESSEE 4 (15:09 1H)
The game started slowly for both teams, with Florida going 0-for-5 from the floor before Walter Clayton Jr. hit a 3-pointer to get the Gators on the board.
Florida’s shooting has been abysmal to begin with, at just 14% (1-for-7), but Tennessee isn’t faring much better, shooting 20% (2-for-10). The early signs suggest a hard-fought, low-scoring affair as both teams try to find their rhythm.
As the game progresses, it’s clear that both teams are playing tight defense, but the key for Florida will be to limit their turnovers and capitalize on Tennessee’s shooting struggles.
For the Volunteers, finding consistency on offense, particularly from beyond the arc, will be critical to staying in the game.
