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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It could have appeared ugly at instances, however in the long run, it was candy for Tennessee basketball.
The No. 2 seed Vols defeated No. 7 seed Texas 62-58 on Saturday night time in Charlotte to advance to their second-straight Candy 16.
Tennessee (26-8) got here out on the profitable aspect of a rock battle with Texas (21-13) that featured some signature protection from the Vols. Knecht led the way in which in scoring with 18 in a sport the place factors got here at a premium and the Vols didn’t make many pictures.
“We anticipated it to be a very bodily sport,” Knecht mentioned. “It was bodily from the bounce with each groups going forwards and backwards. We have been going to maintain taking pictures it it doesn’t matter what. I’ve confidence in all of those guys if they’re open they should shoot that factor. We all know they may begin to go in.”
Dylan Disu opened the scoring for the Longhorns with a triple after which Josiah-Jordan James answered for Tennessee with a troublesome layup. Jonas Aidoo then flushed a dunk off a pleasant Zakai Zeigler cross and Tennessee led 4-3.
Tobe Awaka hit two free throws after which a driving layup to provide the Vols an 8-4 lead with 13 minutes to go within the first. Awaka muscled in one other layup however then picked up a expensive second foul. Jordan Gainey stole the ball and laid in an uncontested fast-break layup earlier than James transformed a troublesome reverse layup to provide the Vols a 16-8 lead with 9:37 to play within the first half.
Texas then went on a 6-0 run out of a timeout and reduce the Vols’ result in two. Knecht obtained on the board with two free throws to finish Texas’ run. Awaka hit one other inside shot however then picked up his third foul of the half and needed to sit down once more. The Vols led 21-17 after as each groups have been on three-plus minute scoring droughts. That drought ended after Gainey hit two free throws and Zeigler hit a nook trey to provide the Vols a nine-point lead.
Tennessee led on the half 28-19 after a dominant defensive efficiency. The Vols left loads to be desired on the offensive finish as 5 gamers had 4 factors and the main scorer Awaka had three fouls on the break.
Santiago Vescovi obtained a steal and layup to provide Tennessee its new largest lead of 12 to open the second half. Knecht made his finest play of the day with a hovering putback dunk which he admired by hanging on the rim. Awaka continued his scoring manufacturing with one other layup after he checked again in.
Brock Cunningham hit a 3-pointer for Texas to carry the Longhorns inside 9 at 40-31 with 11:53 to play. Tennessee’s poor 3-point taking pictures allowed Texas again within the sport because the Vols began 1-19.
“It was a sport of runs,” Knecht mentioned. “We knew each groups would make runs. We took their punch and punched proper again. We needed to lock in on protection to finish the sport becasue that’s what we’re constructed on.”
Texas reduce the result in 45-42 after a deep 3-pointer by Max Abmas. Aidoo dunked it over two Longhorns and put Tennessee again up 5. Knecht hit an enormous fading nook 3-pointer to interrupt Tennessee’s chilly streak and put the Vols up eight. James hit one other trey however then Tyrese Hunter answered with back-to-back layups to make it 53-48 Vols.
Hunter reduce the result in two with 1:53 to go after one other transition layup by Hunter. Abmas laid it in to chop the result in 56-55 and Texas started fouling. Aidoo hit two clutch free throws to place the Vols again up three after which Abmas missed from the nook and Knecht was fouled. He hit each free throws after which Hunter hit a pull-up trey to chop it again to 60-58. Knecht went again to the road and hit each to seal the sport.
“It exhibits loads that we have been in a position to win this sport,” James mentioned. “Each of those first two video games have been totally different and I give credit score to our coaches for getting us prepared. We didn’t suppose we might shoot this poorly, however coach is all the time telling us to depend on our protection and we did to get the win immediately.”
The Vols will journey to Detroit for the Candy 16 subsequent week.
