Missing three of their top players, the Florida Gators shocked the sixth-ranked Tennessee Volunteers 75-49 in Gainesville, Fla., on Tuesday evening.

The Gators (7-4, 4-3 Southeastern Conference) won for just the third time in the past five games.

The Volunteers (10-2, 4-2) saw their three-game overall winning streak and their four-game success streak against Florida end.

The problem for Tennessee was poor shooting -- 29.3 percent from the floor and 3 of 18 from 3-point range -- and poor play around the basket as it was beaten on the boards 44-36 and outscored in the paint 42-22.

The Volunteers also committed 18 turnovers, and a suddenly shoddy defense allowed Florida to shoot 49.2 percent as a hustling Gators team dominated.

Florida was led by Noah Locke and Tyree Appleby, who had 14 and 13 points, respectively. Appleby added a game-high seven assists. Also scoring in double figures for the Gators were Tre Mann (12) and Ques Glover (10).

The Volunteers were led by John Fulkerson's 15 points, while. Keon Johnson added eight.

The Gators held Victor Bailey Jr., who has been scoring 12.3 points per game, to four points on 1-of-12 shooting from the floor. Also stymied for Tennessee was Josiah-Jordan James, who was held to five points.

The Gators have been playing without SEC preseason player of the year Keyontae Johnson since he collapsed on the floor during a game against Florida State on Dec. 12.

Against the Volunteers, the Gators were playing their third straight game without Scottie Lewis and his 11.0 points and 4.4 rebounds per game because of what school officials called health and safety protocols.

Also a pregame scratch was Colin Castleton (ankle injury), who is averaging 12.6 points and a team-leading 5.7 rebounds.

But balanced scoring turned the trick.

The Volunteers' defense has been a strength this season as it was giving up a league-best 62.6 points per game in SEC play. Tennessee ranked third in the NCAA in scoring defense, allowing just 57.2 points per game. The 75 points they gave up were the most on the season.

But starting early, it was the Gators who looked to be the defensive specialists as they held Tennessee to just 13 points in the first 11 minutes of the game. They held the Volunteers to just 28.1 percent from the floor in the first half.

Florida is next scheduled to take on Georgia on the road on Saturday afternoon.

The Volunteers, meanwhile, are set to host No. 19 Missouri on Saturday.

--Field Level Media