University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
18-8, 5-7
Florida
18-5, 8-4
Florida Holds Off Tennessee 88-82
February 18, 2001 | Men's Basketball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Florida had what it needed against Tennessee: a strong backcourt and a healthy Brent Wright.
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| Terrence Woods came off the UT bench to score 16 points. (photo: pmrphoto.com) |
"The two of them, Nelson and Dupay, had an outstanding game," Tennessee coach Jerry Green said.
"With those guys shooting the ball the way they are and the pressure they put on the defense with their offensive ability, it opens things up for Brent, Udonis (Haslem) and those guys in the post," Florida coach Billy Donovan said.
Matt Bonner and Wright - who had thumb surgery Tuesday - added 15 apiece for the Gators, who won in Thompson-Boling Arena for the first time since 1997.
Florida has won three in a row and seven of its last eight, including an 81-67 win over Tennessee on Jan. 30.
The woes for Tennessee (18-8, 5-7) continued despite the return of point guard Tony Harris and gutty play down the stretch by reserve guards Terrence Woods and Harris Walker.
Harris had played only 11 minutes in the last four games because of injuries.
? Woods scored two key 3s to pull Tennessee within eight and Walker scored seven points in the final 4:29.
"Their kids stepped up and made some plays to put them in a position to get right back in it," Donovan said.
Tennessee has lost four straight for the first time under Green, now in his fourth season with the Vols.
Vincent Yarbrough led Tennessee with 20 points and 13 rebounds, while Woods added 16 on 5-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc. Ron Slay added 15 and Walker had 13.
"We need to regroup and play better," Green said. "We were good late in the game with a small lineup."
The Vols, who trailed by as many as 17 in the second half, rallied one last time in the final 1 1/2 minute. Slay made two baskets and then Yarbrough hit a 3 with 53 seconds left that cut Florida's lead to 83-77.
Walker made a layup and then a 3 that cut it to 85-82 with 34 seconds to go to cap a 12-6 run. But the Vols didn't score again.
Nelson made one free throw and Haslem had a slam with 13.8 seconds left to seal the win.
"Every time they scored we came back at them and try to run it down their throat," Nelson said.
Wright had two screws inserted in his right thumb and missed Florida's last game. He wore a splint during the game.
Harris had not played a whole game since Jan. 30 at Florida after sustaining a sprained wrist and then a sprained ankle. He finished with six points but five turnovers in 32 minutes.
