In Knoxville, the Tennessee Volunteers are making waves as they aim to break back into the AP Top-25 with a decisive victory over the Oklahoma Sooners, who have been on a hot streak themselves. With the SEC standings tightening, the Vols are just two and a half games shy of the top spot, and securing a top-four finish would earn them a crucial first-round bye in the upcoming SEC Tournament in Nashville.
First Half Highlights
The Vols came out firing, driven by the impressive play of freshman Nate Ament, who racked up 12 points before halftime. Felix Okpara and Ja’Kobi Gillespie each added 9 points, with Gillespie also orchestrating the offense with 5 assists. Tennessee's defense was relentless, converting 9 Oklahoma turnovers into 18 points, helping them secure a 45-36 lead at the break.
Second Half Action
Tennessee kept the pressure on in the second half, quickly extending their lead to 15 points at 51-36. However, Oklahoma wasn't going down without a fight, hitting a pair of three-pointers to ignite a 9-0 run and narrow the gap to 56-47.
But the Vols were undeterred, finishing the game on a commanding 21-4 run to seal an 89-66 victory. This win marked the 855th career victory for head coach Rick Barnes.
With a 19-7 overall record and 9-5 in SEC play, the Vols are set to hit the road again, facing off against in-state rival Vanderbilt at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville. The stakes are high as Tennessee looks to maintain their momentum and climb the league standings.