After a pair of Zakai Zeigler free throws gave the Volunteers a 26-25 lead with 7:22 remaining within the first half, Tennessee by no means surrendered the lead the remainder of the sport.
Tennessee took a 38-25 lead into the break and led by as many as 18.
Chaz Lanier, the crew’s main scorer (18.8 factors per sport), had a team-high 22 factors (8-for-15) and made 4 of his seven three-point makes an attempt. Seniors Igor Milicic Jr. (16 factors, 9 rebounds) and Zeigler (13 factors, 5 rebounds, 9 assists) had been the opposite gamers in double figures.
As a crew, Tennessee (9-0) shot 48.1 p.c from the ground and 10-for-25 (40 p.c) from behind the arc.
Though Miami (3-7) obtained to inside seven factors (63-56) with 5:39 left within the sport, it couldn’t get any nearer down the stretch.
Miami’s main scorer Lynn Kidd solely had 14 factors, which reveals how efficient the Tennessee protection was. The truth that the Hurricanes had been held to 39.3 p.c taking pictures and solely 24.2 p.c from three-point vary ought to come as no shock. Based on TeamRankings, Tennessee ranks fourth in defensive effectivity.
It solely will get harder for Tennessee because the Volunteers journey to tackle Illinois on Saturday. Miami will look to place an finish to its seven-game shedding streak when it faces Presbyterian on Sunday.
