Live Blog: Tennessee Volunteers 64, Florida Gators 44

The No. 5 Gators had their three-game winning streak snapped Saturday with a 64-44 blowout loss at No. 8 Tennessee. Florida had an abysmal showing offensively, as the Volunteers limited UF to its fewest points, field goals and 3-pointers this season.

After holding Tennessee to just 12 field goals and four 3-pointers in their 73-43 win on Jan. 7, the Gators made only 13 shots and four 3-pointers Saturday in Knoxville while committing 13 turnovers.

“We have been amazing all year offensively,” Florida coach Todd Golden said after the game, “and Tennessee made us look terrible.”

Walter Clayton Jr. left the game with a left ankle injury and returned to the lineup to start the second half. He spent time riding a bike after subbing out the first time and then checked out for good when he slipped on his ankle and took a spill.

Clayton finished with a team-high 10 points — all in the first half before his injury — and the rest of Florida’s backcourt did not pick up slack. Alijah Martin went 0-for-10 before two late 3-pointers, Will Richard only shot the ball twice with two points and Denzel Aberdeen finished 1-for-6.

Tennessee’s Chaz Lanier had a team-high 19 points including 5-for-9 from downtown. Jordan Gainey (16) and Felix Okpara (10) also scored in double figures for the Vols, who opened the second half with a 12-5 run to take their first double-digit lead and later went on a 9-0 run to pull ahead by 19.

Below are live updates from the Gators (18-3, 5-3 SEC) vs. the Vols (18-4, 5-4 SEC).

Florida vs. Tennessee Live Blog

FINAL: TENNESSEE 64, FLORIDA 44

The Gators were held to their fewest points since the 2023 NIT loss to UCF (67-49) and suffered their first 20-point loss since the 2022-23 season, failing to score in the final 2:54.

UF had its worst shooting performance in 2024-25 (13-for-53, 24.5%), including 14.5% beyond the arc (4-for-27). The Vols shot 40% and 44% from 3 in the second half (4-for-9).

SCORE UPDATE: TENNESSEE 58, FLORIDA 40 (3:33 2H)

The Gators have made just two of their last 10 field goal attempts. They’re shooting even worse in the second half (5-for-22, 22.7%) than they did in the first period (7-for-27, 25.9%).

SCORE UPDATE: TENNESSEE 46, FLORIDA 33 (8:00 2H)

The Gators are 2-for-20 from downtown, their worst 3-point shooting performance (so far) since 2023 against Vandy (2-for-20 beyond the arc). Alijah Martin is still scoreless and now 0-for-9 from the floor.

SCORE UPDATE: TENNESSEE 46, FLORIDA 33 (10:07 2H)

The Vols have their biggest lead of the game with back-to-back 3-pointers, while the Gators have made just one of their last eight shots. Alijah Martin is 0-for-7, Denzel Aberdeen is 0-for-4 and Will Richard has just two points.

SCORE UPDATE: TENNESSEE 36, FLORIDA 26 (15:55 2H)

The Vols are up by double digits for the first time and have outscored the Gators 12-5 to open the second half, including a 6-0 start. Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. (ankle) has returned to the starting lineup.

HALF: TENNESSEE 24, FLORIDA 21

Fewest points in a first half this season by the Gators, who committed eight turnovers and were outrebounded on the offensive glass. Walter Clayton Jr. has a team-high 10 points but left the game an apparent left ankle injury.

Both teams shot 2-for-13 from downtown in the first half. Florida was just 26% from the floor (7-for-27) and Tennessee didn’t shoot much better at 29% (9-for-31).

SCORE UPDATE: FLORIDA 17, TENNESSEE 16 (3:20 1H)

The Gators and Vols are shooting under 30% so far. Florida held Tennessee without a field goal for over four minutes since the last media timeout, but they have committed seven turnovers in this half.

SCORE UPDATE: TENNESSEE 14, FLORIDA 13 (7:06 1H)

The Vols have their first lead as Chaz Lanier hits the team’s first 3-pointer after a 0-for-7 start beyond the arc. The Gators haven’t scored in almost five minutes (4:57) with six straight missed shots.

SCORE UPDATE: FLORIDA 13, TENNESSEE 9 (11:12 1H)

Sam Alexis with four points off the bench with back-to-back mid-range jumpers and Walter Clayton Jr. has a pair of 3-pointers (team-high eight points). The Vols are 0-for-6 from downtown.

SCORE UPDATE: FLORIDA 6, TENNESSEE 4 (15:09 1H)

The Gators opened the game 0-for-5 before a 3-pointer by Walter Clayton Jr., who has five points early. UF is shooting 14% to start (1-for-7), but the Vols are also struggling from the floor at 20% (2-10).

Florida Gators starters

No.	Player	Position	Height/Weight	Class	Min.	Pts.	Rebs.	Misc.
1	Walter Clayton Jr.	Guard	6-2, 195 pounds	Sr.	31.7	17.8	3.4	4.0 ast
15	Alijah Martin	Guard	6-2, 210 pounds	Sr.	30.6	16.1	5.2	2.7 ast
5	Will Richard	Guard	6-4, 206 pounds	Sr.	31.8	13.6	4.9	2.0 stl
21	Alex Condon	Forward	6-11, 230 pounds	So.	25.9	10.7	8.2	1.5 blk
9	Rueben Chinyelu	Center	6-10, 260 pounds	So.	19.6	5.4	7.1	1.0 blk

Tennessee Volunteers starters

No.	Player	Position	Height/Weight	Class	Min.	Pts.	Rebs.	Misc.
11	Jordan Gainey	Guard	6-3, 186 pounds	Sr.	34.2	10.8	3.2	1.7 ast
15	Jahmai Mashak	Guard	6-4, 202 pounds	Sr.	27.7	5.9	3.8	2.0 stl
2	Chaz Lanier	Guard	6-6, 192 pounds	5th	30.0	17.8	3.1	3.5 3fg
8	Darlinstone Dubar	Forward	6-8, 211 pounds	Sr.	10.6	3.9	2.6	0.4 ast
34	Felix Okpara	Forward	6-11, 235 pounds	Jr.	24.0	7.3	6.5	1.7 blk

Florida-Tennessee injury report

Tennessee starting point guard Zakai Zeigler and forward J.P. Estrella are both out for Saturday’s game along with Florida center Micah Handlogten.