Gators hold on against Vanderbilt despite career night by Scotty Pippen Jr.

GAINESVILLE — Tre Mann scored 15, Colin Castleton added 13 and Florida beat Vanderbilt 78-71 Wednesday night for its third straight victory.

The Gators (9-4, 6-3 SEC) were ahead by as many as 22 with 9:52 remaining in the second half, but the Commodores pulled withing 71-65 after making a three straight 3-pointers.

Back-to-back layups by Scotty Pippen, son of the Hall of Famer, cut Florida’s lead to 73-69 with 37.7 seconds left, but Vandy didn’t make another field goal the rest of the way. The Gators hit enough free throws down the stretch, 5 of 8, to seal it.

Noah Locke and Tyree Appleby each had 12 points, and Scottie Lewis, who missed the previous four games, added 10 for Florida. Mann, coming off a career-high 24 points Saturday against Georgia, and Locke each had three of the Gators’ 10 3-pointers. Florida has won six straight in the series.

Pippen and Dylan Disu combined to score 50 of Vanderbilt’s 71 points. Pippen scored a career-high 32 and added five rebounds and six assists. Disu had 18 points and eight rebounds. Vanderbilt (4-8, 0-6) made just 12 field goals through the first 30 minutes but finished 25-of-58 for 43 percent.