No. 18 Tennessee mounts comeback to beat Florida 78-71

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Santiago Vescovi ran wide open at Thompson-Boling Arena on Wednesday. 

Following a steal from Auburn transfer Justin Powell, Vescovi streaked in for a layup before Josiah-Jordan James connected from long range. 

James -- who nailed two free throws to start the run -- pointed at Vescovi, who returned the favor. 

Then vintage John Fulkerson made an appearance, backing down his defender to cap a 9-0 Tennessee sprint. 

The sequence was just enough, as UT overcame a 13-point deficit to beat Florida 78-71. 

Vescovi led Tennessee with 23 points, three rebounds and four assists. 

Here are our takeaways from the win:

Vols get impacts from all over

In the first half, Kennedy Chandler and Zakai Zeigler traded offensive and defensive blows for an 11-0 Tennessee run. 

But in the win-clinching sequence, it was UT's veterans who made the most plays. 

Chandler and Vescovi combined for 40 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, while James and Zeigler combined for 20 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists. 

The numbers are quite emblematic for Tennessee, as the Vols have played several games with one group standing out -- but few with the entire team contributing. 

Late free throws finish it

Through 18 games, Tennessee has maintained a 67.4% from the free-throw line. 

The Vols sank 94.4% at the stripe on Wednesday, with several down the stretch. 

Vintage Fulky comes alive late

When the teams departed for their locker rooms at halftime, it appeared that Tennessee would be in for another night without John Fulkerson. 

With 8:31 left to play, though, Fulkerson began his onslaught. 

First he backed down a defender. Then he hit a jumper. Then he hit a free throw, and then he hit another pair of jumpers to total seven second-half points when Tennessee needed them most. 

Awful offensive stretches plague first-half Vols

Bookending the first-half spurt from Zeigler and Chandler, Tennessee went periods of 6:48 and 4:37 without a point. 

Meanwhile, Florida used those stretches for a 15-0 run and a 10-0 run, respectively. 

UT gave up seven straight turnovers during that time. 

Bench, paint, turnovers and boards essential for UT

On the night, Tennessee finished with a combined 60 points between its bench, the paint and points off turnovers. 

UT finished with 12, 18 and 22, in those categories, respectively, through the second half. 

The Vols also nabbed 34 rebounds to Florida's 24. 

Multiple reviews, technicals stop time

After Tennessee's win over Vanderbilt, Uros Plavsic stated that the Vols "won both," referring to the fights and the matchup. 

Things appeared testy again on Wednesday -- each team was whistled for technical fouls, and the clubs almost got involved after the buzzer before coaches escorted them off the floor. 

Up next

Now the Vols look to a Saturday matchup in Austin, Texas, as Rick Barnes will face the Longhorns in a matchup against his former team. 

Tip is slated for 8 p.m. CT in Austin.