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Tennessee basketball: Three takeaways from Vols’ 63-58 win vs. Florida

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 2: Dunk from Yves Pons #35 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half of their game against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders at Thompson-Boling Arena on December 2, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 2: Dunk from Yves Pons #35 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half of their game against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders at Thompson-Boling Arena on December 2, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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A two-game losing streak for Tennessee basketball ended as they beat the Florida Gators Saturday. Here’s what we learned from the Volunteers’ victory.

After nearly blowing a second-half lead for a second straight Saturday game, Tennessee basketball was able to keep its NCAA Tournament hopes alive by holding of the Florida Gators Saturday. The Vols won 63-58 in Thompson-Boling Arena.

UT led 48-29 at one point in the second half, and the Gators cut it to one with under three minutes to go. However, Rocky Top regrouped and held on. With the win, they improved to 16-13 and 8-8 in the SEC, and Florida fell to 18-11 and 10-6 in the SEC. Rick Barnes improved to 5-1 against Mike White with the two at their respective schools.

Up next for Vol Nation is a road trip Tuesday to the Kentucky Wildcats. Then they close things out at home against the Auburn Tigers. Here are three takeaways from Tennessee basketball’s huge win in Knoxville.

1. Guards did their fault, and John Fulkerson took over.

The lead for the Vols was built by Josiah-Jordan James finding his rhythm, Jordan Bowden once again being the veteran scorer and Santiago Vescovi taking advantage of opportunities. James hit four of eight shots and had 12 points, six assists and eight rebounds. Bowden had 10 points and hit two threes. Vescovi hit one three and had 11, and he had four assists.

But while Vescovi, Bowden and James got things going, John Fulkerson was took over. He had 16 points in the second half for 22 overall. Up by one, Fulkerson hit the three with two seconds left on the shot clock to put the Vols back up by four. Then he cleaned up a Bowden missed layup for a dunk with 45 seconds left to seal the deal. He scored the last three field goals for the Vols.

2. Yves Pons led an amazing defensive effort.

Although Florida got hot in the second half from the outside, Tennessee basketball did a very good job of being aggressive in the paint down low. Sure, Kerry Blackshear Jr., who almost ended up in Knoxville, had 20 points.

But with an effort led by Yves Pons, the Vols consistently altered shots in the paint, especially in the final minute. Pons had two blocks, and the team as a whole had seven. Everybody contributed, but Pons did what he does best inside.

3. Free throws nearly proved costly.

Honestly, we shouldn’t dwell on Florida’s run, which the Vols allowed for the second straight week. That was naturally going to happen. What kept it a game late, however, was the fact that UT couldn’t put the game away with free throws.

Rocky Top was seven-of-13 from the line, and despite his aggression, John Fulkerson was the main culprit, going one-of-four. Josiah-Jordan James also missed two of four. This could have been dangerous down the stretch, but the other factors overcame it.

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