With a chance to erase the epic fails of the last two seasons, the Gators score one point in the final four minutes and lose 64-60 to Vanderbilt. The Gators are 20-10, but 9-6 in the league when 10 wins can guarantee an NCAA spot. Kentucky stands in the way of a tenth win on Sunday.
Vanderbilt (23-6, 12-3) played a beautiful inside-outside game as A.J. Ogilvy (16pts, 8reb) abused Vernon Macklin and guard John Jenkins was on fire with 18 points on six 3-pointers. Macklin did score 21, but it came on a night when Chandler Parsons finally hit the wall, as he scored 3 points and attempted four shots. It did not help that Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker were a combined 3-24 from the field. Boynton missed an open 3-pointer with ten seconds left as Billy Donovan could never find someone to consistently run the offense.
Dan Werner was cheered on Senior Night, a difference from the usual response he gets. Werner played more aggressively than he has all season, scoring 8 and pulling 5 rebounds. However, his own goal gave Vandy the 62-60 lead with 2:24 left that they would never give up.
Vandy raced out to a 9-0 lead in the first half and led by 12 before UF clawed their way back to a three point game at the half. But it was apparent that Vandy was too much for Florida, and once again, the Gators could not win when it counts most. Florida goes to Kentucky (27-2, 12-2) Sunday.