GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Alijah Martin scored 18 points, Denzel Aberdeen added 16, and No. 8 Florida thumped top-ranked Tennessee, 73-43, on Tuesday night to knock off the last unbeaten team in men’s Division I basketball.
Alex Condon chipped in 12 points and 12 rebounds for his second double-double this season as the Gators (14-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) beat a No. 1 team for the third time in school history — the first in six tries at home — and extended their home-winning streak to 16.
Florida, a 2½-point favorite according to BetMGM Sportsbook, dominated from the opening tip. The Gators scored the first 12 points as the Volunteers (14-1, 1-1) missed their first nine shots.
The Vols made four shots in the first 20 minutes and trailed by 36 points late. Tennessee was 4 of 29 (13.8 percent) from behind the arc.
Chaz Lanier, who played four seasons at North Florida before signing with Tennessee, scored 10 points on 3-of-16 shooting for the Vols.
Before tipoff, police had to escort dozens of angry students out of their usual, courtside seats because Florida sold students’ tickets to the public as part of a three-game holiday package.
