FINAL: Vanderbilt 91, Florida 74

Saturday, March 14

Nashville, TN

1 PM

Florida Gators

26-7,16-2SEC

Vanderbilt

26-7,11-7SEC

Vanderbilt

Florida

Chris Harry’s At the Buzzer presented by Ticketmaster

FINAL: Vanderbilt 91, Florida 74

Saturday, March 14, 2026 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer

What Happened

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – All-league point guard Tyler Tanner tallied 20 points and seven assists and paced fourth-seeded Vanderbilt to a 91-74 shredding of No. 1-seed and fourth-ranked Florida in the Southeastern Conference Tournament semifinals Saturday at Bridgestone Arena.

The Commodores, playing two miles from their campus and backed by a decisive home crowd advantage, played to their statistics as the No. 8 offense in the nation and did so against the nation's No. 4 defense. They put five players in double-figure scoring, shot 54.5% for the game, went 10 of 21 from the 3-point stripe and carded 21 assists to just nine turnovers.

The loss, the most lopsided for the Gators this season, snapped UF's 12-game winning streak and sent the team into NCAA Tournament Selection Sunday on a downer. The outcome also proved a far cry from Florida's 98-94 shootout win at Vanderbilt on Jan. 17.

The game was close for about 10 minutes, with the Commodores using a run of 13 straight points to rip open a tie score and race to a 13-point halftime lead. Vandy had four different players tally at least eight points and five hit at least one 3 through the first 20 minutes. UF, meanwhile, shot just 37% in the first half to fall behind and surrendered 20 points off nine turnovers.

The Commodores' lead never got below 13 in the second half and grew to as high as 25 -- 76-51 -- with eight minutes to go.

The Gators, led by forward Thomas Haugh's 19 points and nine rebounds, shot 46% for the game, made only five of 17 from deep turned it over 14 times. Vandy's bench outscored UF's 26-8, with backup forward Jalen Washington adding 17 points. Florida won the battle of the boards, 38-23, including 20-8 on the offensive glass, but struggled to take advantage of its second chances (only 14 points).

UF forward **Alex Condon** (21) in action Saturday.

Turning Point

The game was tied at 14-all when UF guard Urban Klavzar fouled Vandy guard Duke Miles on a 3-point attempt. Miles converted all three free throws. On Vandy's next possession, Gators center Micah Handlogten fouled Miles on a 3-point attempt that went down. Miles' seven-point sequence was followed by a jumper from Washington, accounting for a run of 13 straight points from which the Gators never recovered.

Staggering Statistic

Entering the tournament, UF had shot 37.6% from the arc over its previous 11 games. In two SEC Tournament games, the Gators went 8-for-37. That's 21.6%.

Up Next

Florida (26-7) will return to Gainesville later today and await word of its NCAA Tournament destination when the field is announced Sunday night. With the loss, the chances of a No. 1 seed are unlikely, but the Gators are a virtual certainty to be sent to Tampa for the first two rounds next weekend. Vandy (26-7) will play for its first tournament title since 2012 on Sunday against either 17th-ranked Arkansas or surprising Ole Miss.

Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu. Find his story archives here.