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COL BKB: Tennessee 89, Florida 86

GAINESVILLE, Fla., March 6 (UPI) -- JaJuan Smith made nine of 13 shots from the field Wednesday to help rally No. 4 Tennessee to an historic 89-86 decision over Florida.

The Volunteers won a school-record 27th game and also claimed their first outright regular-season Southeastern Conference championship in 41 years. Tennessee received an assist in its bid for the league title earlier in the evening when Mississippi State fell to Vanderbilt.

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Tennessee had to come back from a 16-point deficit with Smith scoring 23 points and Chris Lofton adding 21. The Volunteers (27-3, 12-2 SEC) broke the school record for most wins in a single season (26) set by the 1999-2000 team.

Nick Calathes scored 24 to lead two-time defending national champion Florida (21-9, 8-7). The Gators are in danger of missing the NCAA tournament for the first time in 10 years.

Wayne Chism gave Tennessee a three-point lead by making two free throws with 18 seconds remaining. Calathes had a chance to tie it just before the buzzer, but his three-pointer bounced off the rim.

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