No. 8 Florida defeated top-ranked Tennessee 73-43 on Tuesday night to defeat the final undefeated team in men’s Division I basketball, led by 18 points from Alijah Martin and 16 from Denzel Aberdeen.
The Gators (14-1, 1-1 SEC) defeated a No. 1 team for the third time in school history, the first in six attempts at home, and extended their home winning run to 16 thanks to a double-double from Alex Condon, who finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds for the second time this season.
Florida dominated from the first tip. The Volunteers (14-1, 1-1) missed their first nine shots, and the Gators scored the first 12 points.
The Volunteers fell behind by 36 points after making just four shots in the first 20 minutes in front of 11,011 spectators.
“Tonight, we played with great physical and mental toughness,” stated Todd Golden, the coach of Florida. “We guarded well tonight, and all eight players who played answered the bell. It’s a fantastic outcome for us.
“This could be good for us,” stated Rick Barnes, the coach of Tennessee, following the defeat. “We’ll learn from it.”
The Volunteers had a strong defense and were among the top defensive teams in the country. Nearly all of Florida’s baskets were challenged. However, Tennessee’s offensive performance was quite different, as they hit 13.8% from three and 21.4% from the field.
Halfway through the first half, Aberdeen and Will Richard made consecutive 3-pointers for Florida, converting a six-point edge into a 12-point lead and electrifying the crowd.
One mistake was made by the Gators: they offered public student tickets as part of a three-game holiday package. Before tipoff, police had to evacuate scores of irate students from their customary courtside seats.
