GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Erving Walker hit a driving layup with 14 seconds left and No. 17 Florida overcame a six-point halftime deficit to beat Tennessee 61-60 on Saturday.
Walker led the Gators with 16 points and Kenny Boynton and Vernon Macklin each added 12. Alex Tyus chipped in 10 for Florida (20-5, 9-2 Southeastern Conference), which has won four straight and seven of eight.
Tennessee got 22 points from Scotty Hopson and 11 from Brian Williams. The Volunteers (15-10, 5-5) lost their third consecutive game and second in a row since coach Bruce Pearl returned from an eight-game SEC suspension for lying to NCAA investigators about a secondary violation.
The win also kept the Gators in control of the SEC East. Florida began the day with a 2 1/2-game lead over four teams tied for second place.