by Camden Gober
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The short-handed Vols get their revenge over the Gators as No. 8 Tennessee dismantles No. 5 Florida, 64-44, in front of a sold-out Food City Center at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Tennessee was without two starters, standout point guard Zakai Zeigler (knee) and forward Igor Milicic Jr. (illness) did not play for the Vols. With Zeigler and Milicic Jr. both out, Tennessee was down to just seven scholarship players available.
Tennessee’s Chaz Lanier finished with a game-high 19 points on 6 for 14 shooting, and 5 for 9 from three-point range.
Jordan Gainey (16) and Felix Okpara (10) also finished in double figures scoring for the Vols.
Florida’s only player that finished in double figures scoring was Walter Clayton Jr. who finished with 10 points.
It was a slow start offensively for both the Vols and the Gators, and Florida had the lead for most of the first half.
Darlinestone Dubar stepped up with a monster stuff at the rim, followed by another huge block by Cade Phillips right after which led to a Chaz Lanier three on the other end to give the Vols the lead.
Tennessee led 24-21 at the break after an 8-2 run to take motivation into the break.
The Vols then built off that momentum with a 6-0 start to the second half.
After building up a lead, Tennessee never looked as the Vols flat out dominated Florida in the second half in way of a twenty point beatdown.
Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes told reporters after the game, “I told the team it was one of the great wins we’ve ever had here.”
Florida was held to a season-low 44 points, previous was 70, and a season-low 24.5% shooting from the floor. The Gators also shot just 4 for 29 from three on the day.
Florida head coach Todd Golden told reporters after the game, “Tennessee dictated the game from start to finish. They were more physical than us all game long and we weren’t able to adjust.”
No. 8 Tennessee (18-4, 5-4) will play their third straight game in Thompson-Boling Arena on Wednesday night when the Vols face off with No. 20 Missouri (17-4, 6-2) at 7 p.m. on SEC Network.