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Brett Nelson, Teddy Dupay combine for 47 points in UF's 88-82 win, its first at UT since 1997.
©Associated Press
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 19, 2001
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Florida had what it needed against Tennessee: a strong backcourt and a healthy Brent Wright.
Guards Brett Nelson scored 25 and Teddy Dupay 22 Sunday, helping No. 11 Florida hold off No. 15 Tennessee for an 88-82 victory.
Matt Bonner and Wright, who had thumb surgery Tuesday, added 15 each for the Gators, who won in Thompson-Boling Arena for the first time since 1997.
"The two of them, Nelson and Dupay, had an outstanding game," Tennessee coach Jerry Green said.
The guards combined to make 10 of 17 three-pointers.
"With those guys shooting the ball the way they are and the pressure they put on the defense with their offensive ability, it opens things up for Brent, Udonis (Haslem) and those guys in the post," Florida coach Billy Donovan said.
Florida has won three in a row and seven of its past eight, including 81-67 over Tennessee on Jan. 30.
Tennessee's woes continued despite the return of point guard Tony Harris and gutsy play down the stretch by reserve guards Terrence Woods and Harris Walker. The Vols have lost four straight for the first time since Green became coach.
Harris had not played an entire game since Jan. 30 at Florida after spraining a wrist, then an ankle. He finished with six points but five turnovers in 32 minutes after playing 11 minutes in four games.
Woods scored two key three-pointers to pull Tennessee within eight, and Walker scored seven points in the final 4:29.
"Their kids stepped up and made some plays to put them in a position to get right back in it," Donovan said.
Vincent Yarbrough led Tennessee with 20 points and 13 rebounds, and Woods added 16 on 5-for-6 shooting on three-pointers. Ron Slay added 15 and Walker 13.
Tennessee showed improved defensive intensity and rebounding early but became inconsistent as the game wore on.
"We need to regroup and play better," Green said. "We were good late in the game with a small lineup."
Yarbrough and Slay think the Vols are struggling because they are not playing as a team.
"I think basically in the first 30 minutes, everybody is basically worrying about themselves, and the last 10 minutes, everybody is looking at the clock, like, 'Damn, we're losing.' Then we start playing together," Slay said. "Once we start doing that for 40 minutes we'll be all right."
The Vols, who trailed by as many as 17 in the second half, rallied in the final 11/2 minutes. Slay made two baskets and Yarbrough hit a three-pointer with 53 seconds left that cut Florida's lead to 83-77.
Walker made a layup and a three-pointer that cut it to 85-82 with 34 seconds left to cap a 12-6 run. But the Vols didn't score again.
Nelson made a free throw and Haslem had a slam with 13.8 seconds left to seal the win.