GAINESVILLE, Fla. — After getting off to a fabulous start and jumping to a quick double-digit lead, the Florida Gators found themselves down a half-dozen to the No. 2-ranked team in the country midway through the second half. Not only did visiting Tennessee have that big number in front of its name, the Volunteers also had the nation’s top-rated defense and had forced the home team to miss eight of its last nine shots.
“We had a little moment there when things didn’t go our way,” UF coach Todd Golden said. “That was a great moment for us.”
Regarding the latter part of that quote, Golden was speaking of his team’s response. As in the startling eruption of offense that turned that deficit into another double-digit lead and jettisoned the Gators home to a stunning and inspiring 67-54 defeat of the Volunteers in their Southeastern Conference clash before a wild and raucous Exactech Arena/O’Connell Center crowd Wednesday night.
That in-game “great moment” turned into an even better post-game one, as Golden celebrated his first signature win as UF coach and the Gators (13-9, 6-3) notched a gold-star victory for their resume in putting the Vols (18-4, 7-2) alongside No. 2 Auburn last February as the highest-ranked opponent ever beaten in Gainesville.
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