For the first time this season, Nick Calathes didn't steal the show.
And for the first time all year, he didn't have to.
The Gators had five players score in double figures and shot a season-best 61.2 percent from the field during Saturday's 82-68 win against Vanderbilt (16-10, 5-7 Southeastern Conference).
It was the Gators' (21-6, 8-4 SEC) most complete game of the season, and with the race for the SEC still wide open, one they had to have.
The victory extended UF's home winning streak to 17 games.
Alex Tyus (10 points) and Kenny Kadji (7 points) dominated the paint, Erving Walker knocked down open threes and Dan Werner didn't miss.
Walker, who scored 10 of UF's last 17 points, led the Gators with a team-high 17 points.
"Nick, we know he's our go-to guy, and he's led us in a lot of big games, but I think we needed a game like this," Walker said.
UF started fast, holding Vanderbilt to only 2 points in the game's first 8:15 and jumped out to an early 12-2 lead.
Dan Werner had his best shooting night of the season, finishing with 11 points, and was a perfect 4 for 4 from the field.
"You try to figure out what they can do, but they just have a lot of weapons," Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings said. "When all of their weapons are playing well, it's hard."
The Gators, who came into Saturday's game last in the SEC in blocked shots, sent back seven against the Commodores - four of which came courtesy of Kadji.
"Kadji's blocks were legitimate. The others, I think they probably just tripped and fell into our guys who happened to have their hands up," UF coach Billy Donovan joked. "Dan Werner had one, too. I'd like to go back and see that play."
Calathes scored 33 points a week ago against Kentucky and came within one rebound of a triple-double against Georgia in the following contest.
The Gators lost both of those games.
Saturday, the sophomore deferred to his teammates, and UF played arguably its best basketball of the season.
"(Nick has) carried our team, but it's good some of the other guys stepped up and carried the load," Donovan said. "He probably never says this, but he's sick and has been sick for the last couple days. He's definitely not been himself."
Despite the off night, Calathes still managed to score 14 points and register four steals.
UF ends its season with a brutal stretch that will see the Gators at No. 23 LSU on Tuesday followed by Tennessee at home, at Mississippi State and Kentucky at home.
"This is what we come to Florida for," Walker said. "These are big games. We want to go to the tournament, and these are the type of teams we have to beat."
With the victory, the 113th of his career, Walter Hodge became the winningest player in UF basketball history.
Hodge passed former Gators Lee Humphrey and Chris Richard.
"Knowing him, I think that would be the most valuable accomplishment he's ever had in his life," Donovan said.
