No. 8 Tennessee and No. 3 Auburn placed on a present within the first of two SEC Event semifinal video games on Saturday.
With clutch free-throw capturing and glorious guard play, the Volunteers held off a late rally from the Tigers, 70-65, to advance to Sunday’s SEC championship recreation.
In the one prior assembly of the season between the 2 groups, Tennessee fell in a 53-51 defensive slugfest on Jan. 25. The result on Saturday couldn’t have gone any higher for the Volunteers.
With the win over Auburn, Tennessee now owns victories over Auburn, Florida and Alabama, who’re all projected to be a one or two-seed within the NCAA Event, in line with ESPN’s Joe Lunardi.
“Each groups performed their hearts out,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said after the sport. “It was a high-level, hard-fought recreation each methods. We made a run early. I do not suppose in anyone’s thoughts they had been going to make a run to get again. They’re a superb crew at pressuring to get the ball in late-game conditions.”
Though it took eight fewer photographs and struggled from lengthy vary (5-of-19), Tennessee made Auburn pay for its 21 dedicated fouls. Whereas Auburn was held to 13-of-22 from the foul line, Tennessee was 25-of-27, which proved extraordinarily precious.
Tennessee’s guard play was additionally on full show. Senior Zakai Zeigler (20 factors, 5-of-11 FG) was an ideal 9-of-9 from the charity stripe and dished out 4 assists.
The ball motion was very good on this drive, with Zeigler discovering senior Chaz Lanier within the nook earlier than sophomore Cade Phillips completed the possession beneath the basket.
This assured jumper from the highest of the important thing was the one made three of the sport for Zeigler. Nonetheless, it gave Tennessee a commanding 60-49 lead with simply over seven minutes to play.
Tennessee’s protection held Auburn to 41.8% capturing and a brutal 6-of-21 from deep. Aside from Nationwide Participant of the 12 months contender Johni Broome (23 factors, 9-of-13 FG), nobody else had greater than 13.
Auburn (28-5, 15-3 SEC) could have received the SEC regular-season title, however three losses in its final 4 video games will not be ideally suited heading into the NCAA Event. That mentioned, two of these three losses had been to high 10 opponents. The Tigers could also be leaving Nashville early, however there’s nonetheless quite a bit to love about one of many high Nationwide Championship contenders within the nation.
Tennessee (27-6, 12-6 SEC) — winner of three straight — heads into the SEC Championship recreation in opposition to the winner of Florida-Alabama. With an eight-rebound benefit (35-27) on Saturday and the power to constantly knock down free throws, the Volunteers did all the best issues nicely in opposition to the Tigers, which is a should this time of yr.
Some late turnovers had been a problem, however Tennessee appears to be getting scorching on the proper time, which is all you may ask for in March.
