Xavian Lee’s Late-Game Heroics Lift Florida Over Vanderbilt in Thriller
In a game that had just about everything-momentum swings, clutch plays, and a frantic finish-Florida found a closer when it mattered most. Xavian Lee delivered five points in the final 45 seconds, including a cold-blooded three and a pair of pressure-packed free throws, to lift the Gators to a 98-94 road win over Vanderbilt at Memorial Gym on Saturday afternoon.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t just a good win for Florida. This was a statement. And it came in one of the toughest buildings in the SEC.
Lee, who had scored just 20 total points in his previous three games, stepped into the spotlight late. His deep three with 45 seconds left tied the game, and after Vanderbilt briefly regained the lead, he sank two free throws with 18 seconds to go to put Florida ahead for good. Not bad for a guy who came in shooting just 26.1% from beyond the arc this season.
But Lee has done this before. At Princeton last year, he shot nearly 37% from deep. So while the numbers haven’t been there this season, the touch is real-and Saturday, it showed up when the Gators needed it most.
Vanderbilt's Missed Opportunity
Vanderbilt had its chance. Down two with under 10 seconds left, Tyler Tanner got a clean look on a short bank shot from the right side but couldn’t get it to fall. Florida’s Alex Condon secured the rebound, got fouled, and calmly knocked down both free throws to seal the deal.
Tanner led the Commodores with 20 points and carried a heavy load, especially late after Duke Miles fouled out with over four minutes remaining. That left Tanner as the only primary ball-handler on the floor-a tough spot against a Florida team that was starting to smell blood.
Would a fresher Tanner have finished that shot? We’ll never know, but the fatigue factor was real. He logged 37 minutes, and with Miles in foul trouble yet again, Vanderbilt’s backcourt rotation was stretched thin.
A Game of Efficiency and Edges
Both teams shot the ball well. Vanderbilt hit over 50% from the field, nearly 37% from three, and a scorching 90.9% from the line.
Florida was even better from the floor, shooting 52.5% overall and 37.5% from deep. But the real difference came on the glass.
Florida dominated the boards, 40-26, and that rebounding edge helped offset a 10-4 turnover disadvantage. The Gators’ size and physicality inside were simply too much. Rueben Chinyelu, Alex Condon, Tommy Haugh, and Isaiah Brown all made their presence felt, and it’s no surprise-this Florida frontcourt is loaded with length and muscle, ranging from 6'9" to 7'1".
Chinyelu and Lee led the Gators with 20 points apiece. Haugh added 18, Condon 16, and Brown chipped in 14.
It was a balanced, efficient effort across the board, and Florida didn’t just win with its usual strengths-it also shot better than its season averages from both the three-point line and the stripe. That’s the kind of performance that can turn a good team into a dangerous one.
Vanderbilt’s Fight-and What Comes Next
To their credit, the Commodores didn’t fold. After falling behind by 10 in the first half, they rattled off a 13-0 run to take the lead.
Jalen Washington’s buzzer-beating layup capped the surge and gave Vanderbilt a 45-44 edge at halftime. It was their first offensive rebound of the game-and it came with just two seconds left in the half.
Washington and AK Okereke both bounced back from scoreless outings at Texas to score 15 each. That’s exactly what Vanderbilt needed, especially with Washington logging a season-high 29 minutes while staying out of foul trouble.
Still, the rebounding gap loomed large. Okereke pulled down just two boards, and Washington had five. Against Florida’s front line, that simply wasn’t enough.
Miles’ Foul Trouble Becoming a Trend
Duke Miles continues to play with fire defensively. He’s fouled out in two of his last four games and finished with four fouls in another.
On Saturday, his fifth foul came with 4:14 to go, and it changed the game. With Frankie Collins out, Vanderbilt needs Miles on the floor-especially in crunch time.
His absence left Tanner to shoulder the entire playmaking load, and that’s a tall task against a team with Florida’s defensive length and athleticism.
Until Collins returns, Vanderbilt’s margin for error is razor-thin. They need Miles to play smart, controlled defense and stay on the court. His aggression is part of what makes him effective, but right now, it's tipping too far the other way.
Florida Starting to Hit Its Stride
This win might be the moment Florida starts turning the corner. With a roster that includes several key returners from last year’s national title team and a preseason top-three ranking, expectations were sky-high. But now, they’re starting to look the part.
They were dominant on the glass, efficient offensively, and clutch in the final minute. And with Xavian Lee showing signs of rediscovering his shooting touch, the Gators just added another weapon to an already deep arsenal.
Saturday’s win wasn’t just about one shot or one player. It was a full-team effort-and it showed just how dangerous Florida can be when everything clicks.