The fourth-ranked Florida Gators secured their fifth Southeastern Conference Tournament championship and first since 2014, defeating No. 8 Tennessee 86-77 on Sunday. Led by Walter Clayton Jr.’s 22 points, the Gators (30-4) avenged last year’s loss in the title game, ensuring their 12th championship appearance ended with a trophy.
Florida, which previously won three straight SEC Tournament titles from 2005-07, asserted control early and never relinquished its grip on the game. Will Richard contributed 17 points, while Alex Condon (13 points), Thomas Haugh (11), and Alijah Martin (10) provided valuable support in a balanced offensive attack.
Tennessee (27-7), the tournament’s fourth seed, remains in search of its first title since 2022. The Volunteers have now made four championship appearances in the last seven years but fell to 1-3 in those games under head coach Rick Barnes. The Vols allowed 86 points—marking the most they’ve given up in a game all season.
Jordan Gainey led Tennessee with a career-high 24 points, while Zakai Zeigler added 23. Chaz Lanier scored 11 before fouling out late in the game.
The two teams had split their regular-season meetings, each winning in convincing fashion at home. With a strong contingent of Vols fans making the championship feel like a home game for Tennessee, the Volunteers briefly led 6-5 before Florida took over. The Gators built a 34-22 lead and went into halftime up 39-30 after Denzel Aberdeen buried a deep three at the buzzer.
Tennessee fought back but never got closer than five points in the second half. The Vols’ defense, usually their strength, struggled to contain Florida’s efficient offense.
Florida’s dominance in top-10 matchups this season has been a defining factor in their success. They have now played a program-record seven games featuring two top-10 teams, going 5-2 in those contests—an impressive turnaround from their 6-16 record in such games prior to this season.
With the SEC Tournament title in hand, the Gators now shift their focus to the NCAA Tournament, where they will look to continue their strong form and make a deep run in March Madness.
