UT Holds Off State, Ends Skid
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B3 DAILY POST-ATHENIAN WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2021 SEC MEN Team SEC ALL STK Alabama 9-0 14-3 W10 LSU 6-3 11-4 W1 UT holds off State, ends skid Tennessee 5-3 11-3 W1 Florida 5-3 8-4 W2 Missouri 4-3 10-3 L1 Kentucky 4-4 5-10 L1 Tennessee nds Arkansas 4-4 12-4 W2 Auburn 4-5 10-7 W2 Miss State 4-5 9-8 L3 victory despite Ole Miss 3-4 8-6 W2 Georgia 2-5 9-5 L1 Texas A&M 2-6 7-7 L3 another poor S Carolina 1-3 3-5 L3 Vanderbilt 0-5 4-7 L5 shooting night Jan. 23 Auburn 109, South Carolina 86 BY AL LESAR Arkansas 92 Vanderbilt 71 The Associated Press Florida 92, Georgia 84 Ole Miss 61, Texas A&M 50 KNOXVILLE — Even on a mis- Kentucky 82, LSU 69 erable shooting night, Tennessee Alabama 81, Miss State 73 coach Rick Barnes is convinced Missouri 73, Tennessee 64 the shots will fall sooner or later. The 18th-ranked Volunteers hit Tuesday just 37% of their shots from the Tennessee 56, Miss State 53 field — and 16% from 3-point — Alabama 70, Kentucky 59 but still came away with a 56-53 LSU 78, Texas A&M 66 win over Mississippi State Tues- Auburn 88, Missouri 82 day night. “If our guys are taking good Today shots, I can’t be concerned with Vanderbilt at Florida, 6:30 p.m. SEC how we’re shooting,” Barnes said. Georgia at S Carolina, 7 p.m. ESPN2 “The thing is: Can you win when Ole Miss at Arkansas, 8:30 p.m. SEC you’re not making shots?” Yves Pons scored 13 points Saturday to lead the Tennessee (11-3, 5-3 S Carolina at Vanderbilt 8:30 p.m. SEC Southeastern Conference) vic- SEC-Big 12 Challenge tory. He was a critical force in the Alabama at Oklahoma, noon ESPN2 first half for the Vols, then hit a Texas A&M at Kansas St, noon ESPNU pair of shots late in the second Florida at West Virginia, 2 p.m. tbd half when the Bulldogs (9-8, 4-5), Texas Tech at LSU, 2 p.m. tbd who managed to shoot 33%, had TCU at Missouri, 2 p.m. ESPNU the game tied. Arkansas at Oklahoma St, 4 p.m. ESPN2 “This was a must win,” said Auburn at Baylor 4 p.m. ESPN Pons. Ole Miss at Georgia, 6 p.m. SEC In the final 2:30 of the game, with Kansas at Tennessee, 6 p.m. ESPN Pons fouled out, it was freshman Iowa St at Miss St 6 p.m. ESPN2 Keon Johnson who scored four of Texas at Kentucky, 8 p.m. ESPN his eight points, while taking an important charging foul, to seal the victory for Tennessee. UP NEXT “I told our guys before the game, ‘I don’t care how you get it done, WHO: No. 15 Kansas Jayhawks but you’ve gotta get it done,’” said WHEN: 6 p.m. Saturday Barnes. WHERE: Thompson-Boling Arena Mississippi State was led by TV: ESPN RADIO: Vol Network Iverson Molinar with 16 points WHAT TO WATCH: Two weeks ago and D.J. Stewart with 11. Abdul this was circled as a Top 10 show- Ado had 12 rebounds and Quinten down. Both squads have stumbled Post pulled down 10 as the Bull- in respective conference play since dogs dominated the boards, 42-30. then but it remains a great quality The Bulldogs had just three bas- win opportunity for both teams. It’s kets in the game’s final 12 minutes. also UT’s last non-SEC game. “We just couldn’t get that one big shot when we needed it,” said NEXT THREE FOR UT Mississippi State coach Ben How- land. “We’ve played our best team POOL | BRIANNA PACIORKA | KNOXVILLE NEWS SENTINEL VIA AP Feb. 2 at Ole Miss, 7 p.m. tbd defense in the last two games Tennessee forward Olivier Nkamhoua (13) dunks next to Mississippi State’s Javian Davis (2) during an SEC game Feb. 6 at Kentucky, 8 p.m. ESPN (losses to SEC title contenders Tuesday in Knoxville. Feb. 10 Florida, 8 p.m. ESPN2 Alabama and Tennessee). We had a chance to win them both on the road.” After leading by three at half- time, Tennessee struggled to Springer, Johnson carry No. 18 Vols to much-needed win weather Mississippi State’s sec- ond half rally. Midway through BY TROY PROVOST-HERON knock off the Bulldogs (9-8, 4-5). the second half, the Bulldogs went The Daily Times “Those two are growing at a ahead on an inside basket from very fast pace,” sophomore for- Ado, 41-38. The lead didn’t last KNOXVILLE — Tennessee had ward Olivier Nkamhoua said. long as Pons answered with a pair a sense of urgency against Mis- “I’m very proud and happy to of baskets. sissippi State on Tuesday, know- see them out there comfortable, Tennessee’s 26-23 halftime lead ing that a loss would change the hooping and making the right was the product of an early spurt outlook of the season. plays. They know what to do … by the Vols. Perceived as one of the best and having that poise, I think Eight minutes into the game, teams in the country in the that’s really great.” Mississippi State had scored preseason, the Vols could find Johnson finished with eight just four points. Pons had five themselves outside the AP Top points on 3-of-6 shooting to go points and Tennessee gained a 25 with a third consecutive loss along with two assists, a rebound, 15-4 advantage. and, given their resume, would three steals and two blocks. Then, in the final 10 minutes of likely have to start proving their Springer returned to the court the first half, the Vols managed worth to the NCAA Tournament after missing the previous two just two field goals. committee. games with a left ankle injury and Stewart led the Bulldogs’ recov- “I told the team tonight that tallied nine points on 3-of-7 shoot- ery, scoring nine points. Missis- I don’t care how we do it, but ing, five assists and four rebounds. sippi State tied the game at 20 we had to find a way to win this “As the game went on, I think with just over 5 minutes to play game,” Tennessee coach Rick COURTESY OF SEC (Springer) settled in,” Barnes when Ado scored from down low. Barnes said. “… The fact of the Tennessee guard Keon Johnson (45) defends Mississippi State guard D.J. said. “He certainly is a differ- Three free throws by Tennessee matter is, in games like this, play- Stewart Jr. (3) during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the ence maker. We knew he would freshman Jaden Springer, who was ers make plays coming down the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Thompson-Boling Arena on Tuesday in Knoxville. make some mistakes, but he made back after missing the last two stretch.” some terrific plays. It’s great to games with an ankle injury, then a In a must-win game, it was two it to the open man,” Barnes said. sissippi State’s Tolu Smith hit have him out back and see him 3-pointer by Santiago Vescovi gave of Tennessee’s youngest players “We all know those two guys are two free throws. Springer had his out there.” the Vols some breathing room. — albeit also two of its most tal- going to get better and better. next shot attempt blocked as he The Vols certainly needed ADJUSTING HIS GAME: Tennessee ented — who answered the call. They just have to get more con- attempted to beat the shot clock, Springer and Johnson’s perfor- grad student John Fulkerson, a Freshman guards Jaden Springer sistent.” but he quickly gathered the loose mances late, and if the season necessary inside presence for the and Keon Johnson scored eight Tennessee (11-3, 5-3 SEC) led ball and fired another shot that does end up finishing how it was Vols, has struggled lately. of the Vols’ final 10 points in the 46-45 when Johnson hit a turn- clanged off the rim and into the expected to, those two will play Against a very physical Missis- final four minutes, 13 seconds around jumper through contact arms of Johnson, who finished a big part in it. sippi State crew of big men, Fulk- to secure a 56-53 victory inside in the paint for an and-one oppor- with a layup to give UT a 52-48 “(A game like tonight) certainly erson, a slender 6-foot-9, had just Thompson-Boling Arena. tunity. He missed the free throw, advantage with 2:31 left to play. gives us both a lot of confidence four points and four rebounds. “There was no doubt coming but the play seemed to be the Johnson hit two free throws on knowing that (coach) can come “(Fulkerson) has to adjust his down the stretch that we were spark the duo needed to take over. Tennessee’s next possession to to us in any situation,” Johnson game,” Barnes said. “(He) can play going to play through Jaden Springer made a layup on the build the lead to five — its larg- said. “We just play every game with more force. Some way, some- because he is a guy that can fin- Vols’ next possession to extend est lead since it led 20-15 in the until the last second as hard as how, we have to get him going.” ish well and he’s a guy that passes the lead back to three after Mis- first half — that proved enough to we can.” WE ARE OPEN! Thursday - Friday - Saturday Stop in for great deals and check out our new look! 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