In Nashville, Tennessee, Walter Clayton Jr. led fourth-ranked Florida to victory in the Southeastern Conference Tournament championship game, defeating the No. 8 Tennessee Volunteers 86-77. This win secured Florida’s fifth SEC Tournament title and their first since 2014.
The Gators, with a record of 30-4, avenged their loss in the same game last year by outplaying the fourth-seeded Volunteers, who fell short yet again in their search for a title. Florida’s Will Richard contributed 17 points, while Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh, and Alijah Martin also made significant contributions with 13, 11, and 10 points respectively.
Despite the game being played in Tennessee, the Vols were unable to capitalize on the home advantage and were unable to maintain a lead. Florida took control early on and maintained their dominance throughout the game.
Tennessee’s Jordan Gainey had a standout performance with 24 points, supported by Zakai Zeigler and Chaz Lanier. However, the Vols were unable to close the gap in the second half, with Florida’s strong rebounding being a key factor in securing their victory.
Looking ahead, both teams are now awaiting their seeding in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
