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The Florida Gators men’s basketball team’s road woes continued Tuesday night in chilly Knoxville, Tenn., after an 85-66 loss to the No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers.
The Gators (11-6, 1-3 SEC) dropped to 0-3 on the road this season, the seventh consecutive loss to the Volunteers (13-4, 3-1) away from home.
Final
presented by @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/Dt1s8P8GUE
— Florida Gators Men’s Basketball (@GatorsMBK) January 17, 2024
The Dalton Knecht Show
Florida struggled to find any offensive momentum in the first half. Florida excelled on the offensive boards, claiming 11. However, the Gators could not knock down shots, shooting 29% from the field and 25% from deep.
The opposite was the case for Tennessee. The Vols passed the ball efficiently with fifth-year grad-transfer guard Dalton Knecht picking up right where he left off. Knecht finished with a career-high 39 points in a game that was moved up two hours because of weather conditions.
tough on the lefty finish
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📲 https://t.co/ilulRmHSwY pic.twitter.com/3wjnn9Jeco— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) January 16, 2024
Knecht scored 36 against Georgia on Saturday and continued with a hot hand. Knecht only missed one shot in the first half, shooting 9-for-10 from the field and 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. Knecht scored 22 in the first half and helped give Tennessee a solid lead heading into the half, 44-32.
Vols Overpower Gators
Florida came out fighting in the second half and with a game plan to get to the line. The Gators drove the ball to the basket and drew many fouls. Florida shot 21-for-25 from the charity stripe with 22 fast-break points.
Walter Clayton Jr., who has averaged 19 points per game in SEC play, totaled 12 second-half points but UF couldn’t provide enough for the offense.
[Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports]
another 30-piece for Mr. Knecht pic.twitter.com/QdeIVnglAJ
— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) January 16, 2024
Florida Stays on the Road
The Gators look to stop their road problems Saturday at Columbia, Missouri, in a battle with the Mizzou Tigers (8-9, 0-4). Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. on ESPNU, ESPN 98.1-FM/AM-850 WRUF.
