Florida Gators
Tennessee
M. Basketball Downs No. 17/19 Tennessee, 75-62
Wednesday, February 24, 2010 | Men's Basketball
Led by junior forward Chandler Parsons (Casselberry, Fla.) and sophomore guard Erving Walker (Brooklyn, NY), who scored 19 points a piece, the University of Florida men's basketball team (20-8, 9-4 SEC) defeated No. 17/19 Tennessee (20-7, 8-5 SEC), 75-62, on Tuesday night.
The Gators used a 27-6 run -- highlighted by four 3-pointers and plenty of points in the paint -- to turn a close game into a lopsided affair. The victory snapped Tennessee's six-game winning streak in the series.
Florida came alive in the second half, with redshirt junior center Vernon Macklin (Portsmouth, Va.), Parsons and Walker leading the charge. Macklin dominated the Vols inside and led the team with 10 rebounds. He tallied 13 points as well for his second-career double-double. In addition to his 19 points, Parsons was active on the break and on the offensive glass, collecting four offensive rebounds, eight in all. Walker got most of his from behind the arc. He was three of four from the three point line, hitting all of his treys in a 2-minute span. Parsons made another that put Florida up 70-50 with 3:04 to play.
Freshman guard Kenny Boynton (Pompano Beach, Fla.) was the fourth Gator to finish the game scoring double digits. Boynton shot four-of-nine from the field for 12 points. He also tallied three assist and two steals in the win.
The Gators scored the final seven points of the first half to tie the game at 37. All of them came in the paint. Florida scored 26 points in the lane in the first half.
The Volunteers started the game shooting well, hitting six 3-pointers in the opening 20 minutes and had just four turnovers. Florida, meanwhile, missed eight of nine from behind the arc, but was able to regain momentum and cruise to the victory at home.
Scotty Hopson led Tennessee with 20 points. Wayne Chism had seven points and one rebound before fouling out with 4:02 remaining.
The Gators return to action on Saturday as they travel to Athens, Ga. to face the Georgia Bulldogs at 4 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast live on CBS.
-UF-
