Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) reacts after a play Sunday against the Tennessee Volunteers in the second half of the 2025 SEC Championship Game at Bridgestone Arena. [Steve Roberts-Imagn Images]

Florida Wins SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament Title

The No. 4 Florida Gators won their fifth SEC Tournament title Sunday after an 86-77 win against No. 8 Tennessee at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.

The Gators (30-4), winning their first SEC tourney trophy since 2014, will receive a No. 1 region seed in the NCAA Tournament that begins next week. The 68-team bracket will be revealed at 6 p.m. today on CBS. Florida will also be a No. 1 seed in that tournament for the first time since 2014.

Tennessee (27-7) is expected to get a two seed in the NCAAs.

Florida, which has won 12 of its last 13 games, defeated Missouri on Friday and Alabama on Saturday before taking a nine-point lead (39-30) at the half Sunday and then wouldn’t allow the Vols to get closer than five the rest of the way.

The Gators had five players score in double digits, led by All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr.’s 22, followed by Will Richard’s 17, Alex Condon at 13, Thomas Haugh’s 11 and Alijah Martin scored 10.

Clayton Jr was selected as SEC Tournament MVP. He and Richard were named to All-SEC team.

UF coach Todd Golden won his first league championship in his third season in Gainesville.

The Gators also won the SEC Tournament in 2014, 2007, 2006 and 2005 under legendary coach Billy Donovan.

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