Florida Gators
Tennessee
Men's Hoops Wins 104-100 Over Vols In Overtime
Thursday, January 10, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Nelson sent the game into overtime with a desperation trey with three seconds left in regulation that tied the game up at 94-94. Justin Hamilton, who scored a career-high 22 points, made three key free throws and Nelson made two in the overtime period. The Gators played the final 7:42 of the game without center Udonis Haslem, who fouled out with 2:42 to go in regulation.
James White's three-pointer with 33 seconds to go in the first half helped Florida take a 47-43 lead at intermission.
In the second half, the Gators (13-1, 2-0 SEC) opened up their biggest lead of the night, 61-53, when White hit another three with 14:50 to play. But Tennessee went on a 16-3 run to take the lead, 67-64, at the midway point of the second half. Vincent Yarbrough scored seven of his game-high 26 points during that run. But the Gators came back as Nelson, who shot just 4-of-13 from beyond the arc, canned a three to tie the game at 69-69 with 9:52 left in the game.
The Vols (6-7, 1-1 SEC) went on a 9-0 run to retake the lead 89-83 with 1:45 to go. But the Gators came back again. Freshman David Lee converted a three point play, and White hit his third three of the game with :51 to play as the Gators pulled within one point, 92-91. After Tennessee's Ron Slay made a pair of free throws to make it 94-91, Nelson came through with his crucial basket to send the game into overtime. Nelson finished with 20 points on the night.
Gator coach Billy Donovan was proud of what his team had to overcome to win their first SEC road game of the year.
"We were just dead in the water, and we found a way to win this basketball game," Donovan said. "I just couldn't be any more prouder of our kids, the way they hung in there and just fought and battled and scrapped."
Haslem, his backup Bonell Colas, and guard Orien Greene all fouled out of the game for the Gators. Marcus Haislip and Jon Higgins fouled out in overtime for Tennessee.
Besides Hamilton's career-high in points, he dished out 10 assists and grabbed seven rebounds.
"Justin Hamilton was the difference," Donovan said. "They (Tennessee's guards) had a difficult time with him."
Matt Bonner, who battled all night long with Tennessee's big men Haislip and Slay, recorded the 14th double-double of his career with 19 points and 10 rebounds. White established a career-high with 18 points and had eight rebounds. David Lee finished with 12 points, while Haslem was held to just 11.
The Gators have won a school-record 12 straight games and nine straight in league play.
Florida's next game will be Saturday, Jan. 12 at Vanderbilt . Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. ET.
