![Hoops Central: #6 [2] Tennessee vs. [7] UCLA](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2025/03/22074146/Basketball-119.jpg "Hoops Central: #6 [2] Tennessee vs. [7] UCLA")
Hoops Central: #6 [2] Tennessee vs. [7] UCLA
LEXINGTON, Ky. – After defeating 15th-seeded Wofford in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, the sixth-ranked, second-seeded Tennessee men’s basketball team prepares for a second round bout versus UCLA Saturday night at Rupp Arena. Tipoff is slated for 9:40 p.m. ET.
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GAMEDAY TIMES & BROADCAST INFO
- Opponent: UCLA Bruins
- Tipoff: Saturday, March 22 | 9:40 p.m. ET
- Venue: Rupp Arena
- Watch Online: TBS/truTV
- Online: Listen Live
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THE LATEST FROM THE VOLS
Mashack, Zeigler Selected as Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Finalists#6 [2] Vols Defeat [15] Wofford, 77-62, in NCAA Tournament OpenerGainey Named to ABIS Black Coaches WatchlistZeigler Collects USBWA Third Team All-America RecognitionLanier, Zeigler Voted NABC Third Team All-Americans
Fans can catch Saturday’s game between the Volunteers (28-7) and Bruins (22-10) on TBS/truTV. Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Jim Jackson (analyst) and Allie LaForce (reporter) will have the call.
Fans can also listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear Bob Kesling and Bert Bertelkamp describing the action.
In its most recent action, Tennessee began its program-record seventh straight NCAA Tournament berth Thursday night with a wire-to-wire victory, 77-62, over No. 15-seeded Wofford at Rupp Arena.
UT led for all but the first 13 seconds of the victory, securing a spot in the Round of 32 for the fourth straight season. Fifth-year guard Chaz Lanier dropped 29 points, the third-most by a Volunteer in NCAA Tournament play, while senior guard Zakai Zeigler had a 12-point, 12-assist double-double and broke the school record for career assists in the triumph
THE MATCHUP
• The only prior matchup came on 1/30/77, when #8 UCLA defeated #7 Tennessee, 103-89, in Atlanta.
• Tennessee owns a 35-44 all-time record against the current Big Ten membership. That includes a 66- 64 road win on 12/14/24 at Illinois on a Jordan Gainey buzzer-beater.
• Rick Barnes is 41-40 versus the current Big Ten members, including 8-8 at Tennessee with wins over seven different teams.
• Barnes was 3-1 against UCLA at Texas: a 63-61 road win on 12/2/07, a 68-64 home win on 12/4/08, a 69-59 road win on a 12/3/11 and a 65-63 home loss on 12/8/12.
• The lone prior meeting between Mick Cronin and Rick Barnes came on 3/16/12 in the NCAA Round of 64, a 65-59 Cincinnati win over Texas in Nashville, Tenn.
• UT beat Cronin-led Murray State, 64-53, on 11/30/05 in Nashville.
• UCLA, making its fourth NCAA Round of 32 appearance in the last five years, tied for fourth in its first season in the Big Ten.
• Junior forward Tyler Bilodeau, a Third Team All-Big Ten choice, paces the Bruins with 13.5 ppg.
NEWS & NOTES
• Jahmai Mashack is from Fontana, Calif., just 66 miles east of UCLA. This is his second time facing a home-state school while at UT. The Volunteers defeated USC, 73- 66 (OT), in the Battle 4 Atlantis semifinals on 11/24/22 in Paradise Island, Bahamas, en route to winning the title.
• In the victory over Wofford, Zakai Zeigler became, per Elias Sports Bureau, the sixth player in the last 50 years (1975-2025) with 12 points, 12 assists and no turnovers in NCAA Tournament play, joining Colorado’s McKinley Wright IV (2021), UCLA’s Earl Watson (2000), Bradley’s Jim Les (1986), Indiana’s Isiah Thomas (1981) and Missouri’s Larry Drew (1980).
• Chaz Lanier scored 29 points in his NCAA Tournament debut, good for the third-most ever by a Volunteer in the event and the most in a win. His six 3-pointers tied UT’s single-game record in NCAA Tournament action.
• Lanier (116) is now just two made 3-pointers shy of the Tennessee single-season record of 118, set in 2007-08 by Chris Lofton.
• The Vols are 29-27 all-time in NCAA Tournament play, including 10-6 under Rick Barnes, who has the most such wins in program history. More on Pages 10-11.
• Tennessee is looking to reach the NCAA Sweet 16 for the third straight year. It would be the first such instance in program history.
• With 834 wins, Rick Barnes is tied with John Calipari for ninth all- time (min. 10 years in DI) and for the most among active coaches.
• Zakai Zeigler’s 254 assists, a UT single-season best, are six shy of the SEC record (260 by Sean Tuohy 1979-80). His 726 career assists are a program record and the third-most in SEC history.
• Tennessee’s 199 wins over the last eight seasons (2017-25) rank co-sixth in DI, alongside Auburn, Liberty and Saint Mary’s. Only Gonzaga (239), Houston (239), Duke (216), Kansas (212) and Purdue (205) own more.
• The Vols, who reached 25 regular season victories for the third time, are in seeking their third 29-win campaign. They went 31-6 in 2018- 19 and 31-5 in 2007-08.
ALL-SEC ACCOLADES
• Zakai Zeigler and Chaz Lanier both won individual SEC awards from the league’s head coaches. Zeigler earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year plaudits for the second straight season, while Lanier claimed the inaugural SEC Newcomer of the Year honor.
• The league’s coaches tabbed Zeigler a First Team All-SEC competitor and Lanier a Second Team All- SEC designee. Zeigler is the 14th player in program history with at least three All-SEC nods that include two first-team choices. The others are Dale Ellis, Ernie Grunfeld, Allan Houston, Gilbert Huffman, Reggie Johnson, Bill Justus, Bernard King, Len Kosmalski, Chris Lofton, Dyron Nix, Paul “Lefty” Walther, Tony White and Ron Widby.
• Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack both made the cut for the coaches’ SEC All-Defensive Team. This is just the ninth season—10th instance—with multiple players from the same team receiving SEC All-Defensive Team honors, including the second in a row for UT.
• Meanwhile, in the Associated Press voting, Lanier collected First Team All-SEC distinction and Zeigler garnered Second Team All-SEC status.
A PAIR OF ALL-AMERICANS
• Chaz Lanier and Zakai Zeigler both earned The Sporting News Third Team All-America and NABC Third Team All-America plaudits. No other school put multiple players on either list.
• Zeigler was also tabbed an AP Third Team All- American and a USBWA Third Team All-American, while Lanier picked up AP All-America Honorable Mention recognition.
• Ernie Grunfeld and Bernard King form the only other same-season All-American tandem in Tennessee history. They each earned All-America plaudits in both 1975-76 and 1976-77.
• Lanier and Zeigler are also the lone teammate pair on the Wooden Award Top 15 National Ballot, from which the Wooden All-Americans and Wooden Award winner will be selected.
• The guards also form one of just three teammate tandems to make the 30-man Lute Olson Award finalist list.
RACKING UP RANKED VICTORIES
• TOP 25: In the past four years (2021-25), Tennessee’s 29 AP top-25 wins lead DI. Only Alabama (closest SEC team with 26), Connecticut (26), Kansas (26), Iowa State (25) and Purdue (23) are within seven.
• TOP 20: Tennessee is first in the nation with 25 AP top-20 triumphs over that span. Only Connecticut (24), Kansas (22) and Alabama (closest SEC team with 21) are even within five.
• TOP 15: The Volunteers lead DI with 22 AP top-15 decisions over those four years. Kansas (20) and Alabama (closest SEC team with 18) are the only schools even within five.
• TOP 10: Since 2021-22, Tennessee owns 12 AP top-10 wins, co-first nationally, alongside Connecticut (12), Iowa State (12) and Kansas (12). The only school within one is Kentucky (closest SEC team with 11). A full list of the 12 wins is on Page 12 (left sidebar).
• TOP FIVE: In that same four-year span, UT has seven AP top-five victories, the most in the country. Only four other schools have even five: Alabama (six), Arizona (six), Florida (five) and Iowa State (five).
• TOP THREE: The Vols have four AP top-three wins in those four years, matching Alabama (four), Arizona (four) and Florida (four) for the DI lead.
HIGH-CALIBER COMPANY
• Tennessee and Kansas are the only two schools to earn an AP top-five ranking in each of the last four seasons (2021-25). Only two others, Arizona and Purdue, entered 2024-25 with a three-year streak.
• The Volunteers are one of only four teams to reach the AP top six in each of the past five seasons, alongside Alabama, Houston and Kansas.
• UT is one of just five programs to reach the AP top six in at least six of the last seven seasons (2018- 25), alongside Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas and Kentucky. Those are also the only five schools to enter the AP top five in at least five different years in that stretch.
• The Vols are among only eight teams to reach the No. 1 spot in the AP Poll in at least two of the last seven seasons (2018-25), joining Auburn, Baylor, Duke, Gonzaga, Houston, Kansas and Purdue.
• Over that same seven-year stretch (2018-25), UT is also one of seven teams to claim an AP top-two position in at least three seasons, alongside Baylor, Connecticut, Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas and Purdue.
• UT is one of seven schools with an AP top-20 ranking in each of the last eight years (2017-25), alongside Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State and North Carolina. Just two others—Houston and Purdue—have even been AP top-25 each season.
• Additionally, over the last three years (2022-25), the Vols are one of just six teams to reach the AP top two in multiple seasons, joining Alabama, Connecticut, Duke, Kansas and Purdue.
QUITE THE CAMPAIGN
• Tennessee’s nine AP top-25 wins this season are its most ever, eclipsing the seven it had in both 2023- 24 and 2021-22. It has tallied at least seven in three of the last four years after never before doing so.
• UT has seven AP top-15 wins this year, passing 2021- 22 (six) for the most in school history. The Vols had five in 2022-23, giving them five-plus in three of the last four years after never before hitting that mark.
• This is the third time in program history, including the second in Rick Barnes‘ tenure, the Vols have logged four AP top-seven (or even AP top-10) victories in a single season, joining 2021-22 and 1976-77.
• Tennessee has 25-plus wins in a season for the ninth time, including the sixth under Rick Barnes (all in the last eight years) and the fourth in a row. It reached 25 victories in the regular season for the third time, joining 2018-19 (27-4) and 2007-08 (28-3).
• The Volunteers own 28-plus wins for the fourth time (second under Barnes). They went 31-6 in 2018-19, 28-9 in 2009-10 and 31-5 in 2007-08.
TOP-TIER TRIUMPHS
• Tennessee is 43-42 (.506) against AP top-25 foes under Rick Barnes, including 27-15 (.643) in its past 42 such games (since 1/22/22).
• The Volunteers are 37-34 (.521) versus AP top-20 teams in Barnes’ tenure, including 23-11 (.676) in their last 34 such affairs (since 1/22/22).
• UT is 29-27 (.518) against AP top-15 teams in the Barnes era, including 22-10 (.688) in its last 32 such games (since 12/22/21).
• The Vols own a 17-16 (.515) record versus AP top-10 foes under Barnes, including a 15-10 (.600) mark in their last 25 such contests (since 3/2/19) and a 12-7 (.632) tally in their last 19 (since 12/22/21).
• UT is 11-10 (.524) against AP top-five foes in Barnes’ tenure, including 7-5 (.583) in its last 12 such affairs (since 2/15/22). It is 9-3 (.750) versus AP top-five SEC teams, including 8-2 (.800) in its last 10 such outings (since 3/2/19).
STRONG IN THE STANDINGS
• Tennessee finished fourth in the SEC this season. It marked the program’s seventh top-four finish in the last eight years, including its fifth in a row.
• The Volunteers are the only team in the league to place top-four each of the past five seasons. Only three others have done it multiple times: Alabama (four), Auburn (three) and Kentucky (three).
• UT is also the only school to place top-four in seven of the last eight campaigns. Just three others have done it even four times: Auburn (six), Kentucky (six) and Alabama (four).
SENSATIONAL SIX
• Tennessee, Drake, Duke, Gonzaga, Houston and Saint Mary’s are the only schools with 25-plus wins each of the past four seasons (2021-22 to 2024-25).
• Only two others, Arizona and Purdue, entered 2024- 25 with a three-year streak and can still join that list.
TENNESSEE TORCHBEARER
• On 3/7/25, Chancellor Donde Plowman surpised Jahmai Mashack before a team film session by naming him a Torchbearer, which is the highest student honor conferred by the University of Tennessee. He was one of just 10 individuals to receive the prestigious distinction in 2025.
• Mashack is the fourth men’s basketball to win the award, joining Carl Langschmidt (1953), Byrl Logan (1939) and Charles Lucas (1931).
• Mashack and swimmer Griffin Hadley, a fellow 2025 winner, are the first male non-football student- athletes to receive the honor in 72 years, dating to Langschmidt. The only other male student-athletes to garner it during that time are football standouts Joshua Dobbs (2016) and Trey Smith (2020).
• The award is given for academic achievement and outstanding commitment to others as demonstrated by the student’s various activities and significant contributions to the university and the community.
#1/1 Vols Even Series with Gritty Win Over #10/12 Tide
Read Online | Box Score (PDF) | Download Postgame Media
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 1/1 Tennessee gutted out a hard-fought 10-7 victory on Friday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium to even its series with No. 10/12 Alabama.
For the second straight game, the Big Orange jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the first and two more in the second to chase Crimson Tide starter Riley Quick, who had allowed just three runs total this season entering the night, after just two innings.
The first three batters of the game all reached base and came around to score for the Vols in their three-run first inning. Andrew Fischer made it four straight batters to reach base with an RBI single before Reese Chapman drove in the final run of the frame with an RBI fielder’s choice.
A pair of RBI singles by Jay Abernathy and Hunter Ensley in the second inning increased the UT lead to 5-0 in the early going before Alabama answered with its first two runs of the game in the bottom of the third. Ensley led the Vols with his third straight multi-hit effort, finishing 3-for-4 with two runs, two RBIs and three stolen bases.
Tennessee (21-2, 4-1 SEC) never trailed in the game but was never able to build a real comfortable lead either, as the Tide continued to battle throughout the night.
After the two sides traded runs in the seventh, the Vols put together an impressive two-out rally in the eighth to score four runs and build their largest lead of the game at 10-4.
After a strikeout and a flyout to start the inning. nine-hole hitter Ariel Antigua got the rally started with an infield single before Curley blasted a two-run homer to left center for his seventh long ball of the year.
Following Curley’s homer, a pair of walks and a hit batter loaded the bases before Dalton Bargo came through with his second RBI hit of the game, lacing a single into center field to plate two more runs and extend the UT lead to six.
Despite the big inning by the Vols, the Crimson Tide (22-2, 4-1 SEC) continued to fight, answering with a run in the bottom of the eight before scoring two more in the bottom of the ninth and bringing the tying run to the plate with one out.
The duo of Andrew Behnke and Tanner Franklin was able to end the comeback bid with a pair of big outs to close out the game and secure Tennessee’s first road win of the year.
Bargo Big Off the Bench
Bargo finished the night 2-for-2 with three RBIs after entering the game as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning. His first knock was a two-out double to score Fischer from first base.
Two Out Hitting the Difference
Two-out hitting was pivotal for the Big Orange on Friday night, as they scored seven of their 10 runs – including all seven after the first inning – with two away. UT was 7-for-15 at the plate with two outs as a team and 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position, a stark difference from Thursday’s game one loss.
Notable Performances on the Mound
Marcus Phillips provided the Vols with another solid start, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits while striking out three over 4.2 innings of work.
Dylan Loy picked up his team-leading fourth win of the year after getting Tennessee out of a big jam in the bottom of the fifth inning, striking out Brennan Norton to strand the bases loaded, keeping the Vols lead intact.
Nate Snead allowed four runs but battled to provide UT with 3.1 important innings of relief before handing the ball off to Behnke and Franklin in the ninth. Franklin struck out Will Plattner with runners on first and second to end the game and earn his second save of the season.
Up Next
The Vols and Tide will meet at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday in a series-deciding rubber game that will be streamed on the SEC Network+ and ESPN app.
Lady Vol Three-Point Barrage Sinks USF, 101-66, In NCAA First Round
Read Online | Box Score (PDF) | Video Downloads | Photo Download | Watch Press Conference | Watch Highlights | Press Conference Transcript
COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 20 Tennessee opened its 43rd-straight NCAA appearance in dominant fashion on Friday night, hitting 16 three-pointers and smashing the SEC season record for treys during a 101-66 triumph in NCAA First Round play at the Schottenstein Center.
The Lady Vols (23-9), who are seeded fifth in the Birmingham 3 Regional, came in needing three buckets beyond the arc to surpass the previous mark of 314 by Arkansas in 2019-20 and took care of that with four alone in the first quarter. Jewel Spear’s deep ball with 5:13 to go was the record-breaker. UT’s 16 threes, meanwhile, was a program NCAA Tournament record, ranked second in all games in school history and tied for second most in NCAA Women’s Tournament history.
Redshirt sophomore guard Talaysia Cooper, one of three Lady Vols to hit three treys and one of eight UT players to connect from beyond the arc, led her team with 20 points, six rebounds and two steals. Samara Spencer hit a trio of three-pointers to finish with 15 points and five assists, while Zee Spearman matched Spencer’s total from long range and netted 13 points, and Spear added 11.
USF (23-11) was paced by Sammie Puisis, who knocked down five threes and finished with 28 points. L’or Mputu contributed 12, as her team was unable to keep pace with a deep Lady Vols squad that featured a 54-3 bench points advantage. The Bulls also suffered 24 turnovers and were outscored on points off turnovers by the Lady Vols, 36-10.
Spencer opened the game with a three-pointer just 10 seconds in, but South Florida responded with a 7-0 flurry to seize a 7-3 lead by the 8:18 mark. A 13-6 response by the Lady Vols, fueled by threes from Tess Darby and Spear, though, sent them into the media timeout with a 16-13 advantage. Back-to-back layups by Cooper and Alyssa Latham lifted UT to its biggest lead, 20-15, with 3:57 to go, but USF evened things at 20 by the 2:50 mark on a Puisis three contributing to her 15 first-quarter points. A Cooper three and a Kaniya Boyd layup helped close out the opening stanza with a 26-25 lead, as UT scored 12 of its points off 10 Bulls turnovers.
Tennessee exploded to a 15-4 start at the outset of the second period, with Spearman hitting a pair of threes during that spree and then a Spencer layup and Cooper trey extending the lead to 12, 41-29, with 7:08 remaining and forcing a Bulls timeout. The Lady Vols twice widened the gap to 13, getting a Cooper free throw to make it 42-29 with 6:37 to go and then a Spearman trey to increase it to 45-32 as the teams went to a media timeout with 4:49 to go. After allowing a Carla Brito tip-in, Tennessee scored the next 10 points to close out the half, with Cooper and Spencer threes running UT’s total of deep balls to 10 in the first half and sending their team into the locker room on top by 21, 55-34.
The Lady Vols opened the second half with a layup from Cooper and a jumper by Spencer to increase the margin to 25, 59-34, with 8:43 remaining in the third quarter. The teams exchanged baskets, with UT taking a 67-46 advantage into the 4:55 media break. A 7-0 USF run, including a bucket right before that timeout, enabled the Bulls to whittle the deficit to 16, 67-51, by the 4:43 mark, but a Spencer three and a Latham steal and layup pushed the margin back to 21, 72-51, forcing South Florida to ask for time with 2:24 left in the period. A three by Spear, a Cooper layup off an inbound pass and a Latham driving layup helped their team head into the final frame with a 79-56 lead.
The Big Orange began the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run and rode a 15-7 burst into the 4:11 media timeout, with a pair of threes by Darby pushing the lead to 94-63 by the 4:11 media timeout. As Tennessee closed out the game, a Sara Puckett three-pointer and a turnaround jumper in the paint rounded out the scoring and pushed the Big Orange past 100 points.
UP NEXT: Tennessee advances to the NCAA Second Round and will face No. 4 seed and No. 15/13-ranked Ohio State (26-6) on Sunday. Tip time and TV designation will be announced later. The contest also will be available on Lady Vol Network radio stations statewide and via audio stream on UTSports.com.
SIXTEEN TREYS AGAINST THE BULLS: The Lady Vols drained 16 three-pointers versus South Florida. It marked a school-best 17th time that UT has made 10 or more treys in a single game this season. The 16 tied for the second most in school history, the best by the Lady Vols in an NCAA Tournament game and tied for second best of any team in NCAA Tournament history.
SINKING THE LONG BALL INTO HISTORY: After hitting 16 deep balls vs. USF, Tennessee now has made 328 three-pointers this season, breaking the SEC record of 314 set by Arkansas during the 2019-20 campaign. Tennessee notched its highest three-point game against N.C. Central on Dec. 14, 2024, draining an NCAA, SEC and school-record 30 treys.
A RECORD-SETTING 100-POINT AFFAIR: The Lady Vols scored 100 points for the seventh time in 2024-25, tying the program record for most trips above the century mark in a season with the 1987-88 squad. That gives the program 94 all-time scoring efforts of 100 or more points through the USF contest.
SUCCESS IN THE BIG DANCE: Tennessee made its 43rd straight appearance in the NCAA First/Second Rounds, and it now owns a 65-6 record during games played in those rounds. The Lady Vols improved to 35-2 all-time in the NCAA First Round.
MISCUE MADNESS: The Lady Vols forced the Bulls to turn the ball over 24 times, making them the 20th team this season to commit at least 20 miscues. UT used that to build a 36-10 points-off-turnovers differential vs. USF.
17TH NEW STARTING LINEUP: Tennessee crafted its 17th different starting lineup of the season on Friday, with Jewel Spear, Samara Spencer, Tess Darby, Ruby Whitehorn and Jillian Hollingshead opening the contest against the Bulls. Ten different players have been in the starting lineup for the Big Orange this season.
THP: 63-Year-Old Injured, Facing Charges after Crashing Dump Truck into Vehicles in Jefferson Co.
Jefferson County, TN (WOKI) A dump truck driver is facing charges after blowing through a stop sign and crashing into a construction vehicle Friday morning on Highway 411 near the Chestnut Hill area of Jefferson County.
Officials with the Tennessee Highway Patrol say 63-year-old Christopher Moore was traveling southbound on 411 near State Highway 92 just after 7:00 a.m. when he failed to stop at a stop sign, crossed State Highway 92 and went through a road construction barrier into a construction zone, crashing into the front end of a road grader.
Moore was injured in the crash and taken by helicopter to the hospital.
He is facing charges including driving without a license and failure to obey a traffic control device.
Saturday ‘Real ID’ Appointments Now Available at Select Tennessee Driver Services Centers
The Department of Safety and Homeland Security announced today that it will begin offering additional Saturday appointments at 14 Driver Services Centers across the state for current Tennessee credential holders who want to get a REAL ID.
Saturday appointments will begin at 13 participating Driver Services Centers starting this Saturday, March 22. The Savannah Driver Services Center will offer Saturday appointments starting March 29. Saturday appointments will continue through the May 7th REAL ID implementation date.
Participating Middle Tennessee Service Centers
- Clarksville Driver Services Center – 220 West Dunbar Cave Road
- Columbia Driver Services Center – 1701 Hampshire Pike
- Cookeville Driver Services Center – 4600 South Jefferson Ave.
- Nashville/Hickory Hollow Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 5216 Hickory Hollow Pkwy.
Participating West Tennessee Service Centers
- Bartlett Express Services Center – 6340 Summer Ave.
- Jackson Driver Services Center – 100 Benchmark Circle
- Memphis/East Shelby Drive Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 3200 East Shelby Drive
- Oakland Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 160 Beau Tisdale Drive
- Savannah Driver Services Center – 1016 Pickwick St. *beginning March 29
Participating East Tennessee Service Centers
- Chattanooga/Bonny Oaks Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 6502 Bonny Oaks Drive
- Johnson City Driver Services Center – 4717 Lake Park Drive
- Knoxville/Strawberry Plains Driver Services Center – 7320 Region Lane
- Morristown County Driver Services Center – 1551 East Morris Boulevard, Suite 2
- Oak Ridge Driver Services Center – 475 Oak Ridge Turnpike
To take advantage of the new expanded Saturday appointments, applicants must already have a valid Tennessee driver license or identification card. REAL ID applicants who do not currently hold a valid Tennessee credential will be served during regular, Monday to Friday hours.
Saturday hours are available by appointment only. Applicants without a REAL ID appointment will not be served during the new Saturday hours. Schedule your REAL ID appointment now at tnrealid.gov.
REAL ID applicants must bring proof of U.S. citizenship or legal presence, proof of their Social Security Number, and two proofs of Tennessee residency. If your name has changed, you must also bring certified legal documents supporting the name change(s). This could include marriage licenses, divorce decrees, etc. All documents must be original or certified copies. Photocopies are not accepted.
The TDOSHS encourages all applicants to have their REAL ID required documents pre-approved online. Pre-approved documents can save you in-person processing time at the Driver Services Center and may eliminate repeat trips. A complete list of accepted documents and the pre-approval portal are available at tnrealid.gov.
For more information about Tennessee REAL ID, visit tnrealid.gov.
TN Attorney General Warns Against Home Improvement Fraud
Knoxville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) Experts say home improvement projects pick up in the spring, but so do scams.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti says if you’re considering hiring a contractor, you want to watch out for fraudulent contractors.
“Home improvement scams top the list of consumer complaints received by our Division of Consumer Affairs,” Skrmetti said. “If you’re planning to renovate this spring, make sure your contractor really is licensed and bonded—don’t take their word for it. Do your due diligence before you trust anyone with your money.”
The Board of Licensing Contractors got 884 complaints in 2024 and handed out more than $990,000 in civil penalties from nearly 300 of those complaints; they suggest doing your own research before hiring a contractor to include checking the status of a contractor’s or a businesses’ license through Verify.tn.gov.
The office warned of some red flags to watch out for: door-to-door sales, high-pressure sales tactics like short-time deals and demanding full payment up front.
To file a complaint about the license of a contractor or home improvement company, you can do so on the board’s website.
To file a complaint about a deceptive business practice, you can do so with the Division of Consumer Affairs.
Sheriff’s Office Charges Juvenile with Rape of Child in Blount County
Maryville, TN (WOKI) A teen in Blount County has been arrested and charged with raping a child.
Officials with the Blount County Sheriff’s Office say an investigation this week confirmed that a 4-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted by a 14-year-old boy while she was attending an in-home daycare in Blount County.
The teen has been charged with two counts of aggravated rape of a child by delinquent and is currently being held at the Blount County Juvenile facility pending a hearing in Blount County Juvenile Court.
According to the sheriff’s office, investigators are working a parallel investigation with DCS into the incident and are in the process of trying to identify and confirm other possible victims.
BCSO says the daycare owner has voluntarily closed her business and the investigation is ongoing at this time.
TDOT with a Construction Message Which will Affect Motorists in Knox and Cocke Counties
TRAFFIC ALERT
KNOX COUNTY
KNOXVILLE – Motorists traveling on I-40 West in Knox County should be aware of upcoming road construction activities that will have a temporary impact on traffic.
Beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 21, traffic on the exit ramp from I-40 West to Watt Road (Exit 369) will be shifted to the inside lane. In addition, traffic on the on-ramp from Watt Road (Exit 369) to I-40 West will be shifted to the inside shoulder.
These traffic shifts will each be complete by 6 a.m. on Monday, March 24.
This schedule is contingent on favorable weather conditions. Motorists are advised to expect delays and use extreme caution in this area as workers will be present.
As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and “Know Before You Go!” by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.
TRAFFIC ALERT
COCKE COUNTY
KNOXVILLE – Motorists traveling on U.S. 25E (State Route 32) in Cocke County should be aware of upcoming road construction activities that will have an impact on traffic.
Beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 21, U.S. 25E (State Route 32) will be closed between Lehigh Road and Hilltop Drive as crews will be installing a pipe culvert beneath the roadway. This closure will end on or before 6 a.m. on Monday, March 24.
Signage will be in place to direct motorists to the detour route.
This schedule is contingent on favorable weather conditions. Motorists are advised to expect delays and use extreme caution in this area as workers will be present.
As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and “Know Before You Go!” by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.
![#6 [2] Vols Defeat [15] Wofford, 77-62, in NCAA Tournament Opener](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2025/03/21063531/Basketball-118.jpg "#6 [2] Vols Defeat [15] Wofford, 77-62, in NCAA Tournament Opener")
#6 [2] Vols Defeat [15] Wofford, 77-62, in NCAA Tournament Opener
- Box Score (PDF)
- Season Stats
- VIDEO: Tennessee Postgame
- VIDEO: Wofford Postgame
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Game Recap: Men’s Basketball | March 20, 2025
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The second-seeded University of Tennessee men’s basketball team began its program-record seventh straight NCAA Tournament berth Thursday night with a wire-to-wire victory, 77-62, over No. 15-seeded Wofford at Rupp Arena.
Sixth-ranked Tennessee (28-7, 12-6 SEC) led for all but the first 13 seconds of the victory, claiming a spot in the Round of 32 for the fourth straight season. Fifth-year guard Chaz Lanier dropped 29 points, the third-most by a Volunteer in NCAA Tournament play, while senior guard Zakai Zeigler had a 12-point, 12-assist double-double and broke the school record for career assists in the triumph.
The Volunteers, midway through the first half, scored 12 straight points—seven came from Lanier—in 2:58 to claim a 22-8 advantage with 11:02 on the timer. The stretch came during a span of six straight made field goals.
Wofford (19-16, 10-8 SOCON), after a 3:55 scoreless drought, responded with back-to-back 3-pointers to make it an eight-point game just 65 ticks later, but Tennessee thrice stretched the margin back to 13. The Terriers got the margin down to eight twice more before the Volunteers took a nine-point edge 36-27, into the break behind 14 points from Lanier and a 5-0 margin in points off turnovers, despite the teams posting four apiece.
Just 4:27 into the second stanza, the Volunteers got the lead back to 14, but Wofford countered with a three-point play and a 3-pointer in 89 seconds to make it 48-40 with 13:33 to go. Tennessee regained control and built the cushion to a then-game-best 16, 61-45, with 10:35 left during a span in which it hit six consecutive field-goal attempts.
The Terriers soon made three shots in a row on their end to get it down to nine, but junior forward Felix Okpara threw down dunks on the next to possession to give Tennessee a 13-point margin, 68-55, with 7:08 to play. The victors went up by 17 with 1:58 to go and then by a game-high 18 with 41 ticks on the timer, after which Wofford hit a 3-pointer to close the scoring and make it a 15-point final margin.
Lanier’s 29 points, the most ever by a Volunteer in an NCAA Tournament win, came on an 11-of-22 field-goal clip to match his career best in makes. He shot 6-of-13 from long range to tie the most single-game 3-point makes in the NCAA Tournament in program history. The Nashville, Tenn., native added five rebounds, two steals, one assist and one block in the win.
Zeigler scored his 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the floor, including a 2-of-5 mark from deep, and a perfect 2-of-2 showing at the line. The 12 assists, his fifth-most as a collegian and third-highest total of 2024-25, tied for the second-most by a Volunteer in NCAA Tournament competition. The Long Island, N.Y., native, who committed zero turnovers in 37 minutes and notched two assists, is the sixth player in the last 50 seasons (1975-2025), per Elias Sports Bureau, with 12 points, 12 assists and no turnovers in an NCAA Tournament affair.
Senior guard Jahmai Mashack added nine points, a game-best seven rebounds and two steals in the triumph.
Jackson Sivills, playing in his home state, paced the Terriers with 15 points. Fellow senior guard Corey Tripp had 14, but Tennessee held him to 6-of-17 field-goal shooting. Sophomore forward Jeremy Lorenz registered 12 points and junior guard Justin Bailey scored 10, with both shooting 4-of-6 from the field, including 2-of-3 beyond the arc.
Both sides made double-digit 3-pointers—Wofford went 11-of-26 (42.3 percent) and Tennessee shot 10-of-28 (35.7 percent)—but the Volunteers had a plus-10 margin in points at the line. They shot 15-of-22 (68.2 percent) compared to the Terriers’ 5-of-9 (55.6 percent) ledger.
Tennessee, which shot 26-of-54 (48.1 percent) overall, also did not allow a single point on the fast break or via turnover, ending the night with 3-0 and 14-0 tallies, respectively.
The Volunteers will take on either seventh-seeded UCLA in the Round of 32, with tip-off at Rupp Arena set for Saturday at 9:40 p.m., live on TBS and truTV.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS POSTGAME NOTES
• Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes upped his career win total to 834, remaining tied with John Calipari for the ninth-most all-time (min. 10 years in Division I) and for the most among active coaches.
• Barnes also increased his career NCAA Tournament record to 31-28, good for the sixth-most victories of any active Division I head coach and the second-most in the SEC.
• This is the 17th time in 29 trips to the NCAA Tournament that Barnes has led his team to the Round of 32, including the sixth in seven appearances at Tennessee.
• The Volunteers improved to 29-27 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, including 25-25 in regulation, 17-8 in the first round, 1-1 in Kentucky, 1-0 in Lexington and 1-0 against Wofford.
• Tennessee is now 9-4 as a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, as well as 5-0 against No. 15 seeds, 17-4 versus double-digit seeds and 24-11 against lower seeds.
• The Volunteers played an NCAA Tournament game at a fellow conference member’s arena for the second time ever, joining a 93-88 overtime setback against Syracuse in Baton Rouge, La., on March 13, 1977.
• Tennessee now has a four-year streak of reaching the Round of 32 for the second time ever, joining a five-year stretch from 1978-79 to 1982-83.
• The Volunteers improved to 9-0 all-time against Wofford—its fourth-most wins against any school without a loss—with this the first meeting at a neutral site.
• Thursday’s victory marked Tennessee’s 100th over the current SoCon membership, as it now owns a 100-17 record.
• Barnes is now 26-1 in his career against current SoCon members—that is good for his second-most wins without multiple losses against any league—including 11-1 at Tennessee.
• Tennessee has reached the 28-win mark for the fourth time ever, including the second in Barnes’ tenure, with the 2024-25 campaign joining 2018-19 (31-6), 2009-10 (28-9) and 2007-08 (31-5).
• The Volunteers did not make a field goal for the final 4:47 of the first half and the first 45 seconds of the second, a total span of 5:32.
• Wofford committed its seventh foul of the second half just 6:46 into the frame, putting Tennessee in the bonus with 13:14 to play, and
• Tennessee has conceded 35 or fewer first-half points in 28 of its 35 contests thus far, including 29 or fewer on 16 occasions and 23 or fewer eight times.
• The Volunteers have held a halftime advantage in 23 of their 35 outings this season, including a margin of seven-plus points 14 times, double digits 11 times, 12-plus 10 times, 14-plus eight times, 20-plus four times and 23-plus thrice.
• The Volunteers have held a lead of 15-plus points in 20 of their 35 contests this season, including leading by 18-plus in 18 of them, 20-plus in 15, 26-plus in 11 and 32-plus in five.
• Twenty of Tennessee’s 28 wins are by double digits, with 18 by 12-plus points, nine by at least 20, four by at least 35 and two by 40-plus.
• The 12 assists for Zeigler upped his career mark to 726, moving him past Johnny Darden (715 from 1975-79) for the Tennessee career record and the third-most in SEC history.
• Zeigler tied the record on the first possession of game, just 13 seconds into the contest, hitting Mashack for a 3-pointer and then broke it with 17:01 on the first-half timer on a 3-pointer by Lanier.
• Zeigler’s 12 assists also moved his season total to 254, passing Kentucky’s Tyler Ulis (246 in 2015-16) for the second-most in a campaign in SEC history, behind only Ole Miss’ Sean Tuohy (260 in 1979-80).
• Zeigler’s two steals moved his career total to 247, passing LSU’s Torris Bright (245 from 1999-2003) for sole possession of the No. 10 spot on the SEC all-time leaderboard.
• Zeigler made his 135th appearance as a Volunteer, tying Kyle Alexander (2015-19) for seventh place in program history.
• The 37 minutes for Zeigler upped his career tally to 3,923, eclipsing Brandon Wharton (3,904 from 1995-99) for eighth-most in Tennessee history.
• Zeigler now owns two of the five double-digit assist performances by a Volunteer in NCAA tournament play, as he logged 10 on March 21, 2024, against Saint Peter’s.
• The 12 assists matched Johnny Darden’s total on March 13, 1977, against Syracuse for the second-most by a Tennessee player in the NCAA Tournament, trailing just the 16 by Bert Bertelkamp on March 8, 1980, against Furman.
• In both of Zeigler’s 10-assist NCAA Tournament showings, he also had 10-plus points, giving him the only two points/assists double-doubles ever by a Volunteer in the event.
• Zeigler amassed double-digit assists for the 14th time in his career, including the sixth in 2024-25, with this his fifth time—third this year—posting 12-plus.
• Zeigler now owns 13 double-doubles in his career, with 12 of them—seven more than any other Volunteer—featuring points and assists.
• Over the last 50 seasons (1975-2025), Zeigler is, per the Elias Sports Bureau, the sixth player to compile at least 12 points, 12 assists and zero turnovers in an NCAA Tournament game, joining the following individuals: Colorado’s McKinley Wright IV (March 20, 2021, versus Georgetown), UCLA’s Earl Watson (March 18, 2000, versus Maryland), Bradley’s Jim Les (March 13, 1986, versus UTEP), Indiana’s Isiah Thomas (March 14, 1981, versus Maryland) and Missouri’s Larry Drew (March 8, 1980, versus Notre Dame).
• Across those 50 years, Zeigler is, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the 10th player with even 12 assists and zero turnovers, regardless of point total, in an NCAA Tournament affair.
• Zeigler is the only SEC player in the last 20 years (2005-25) with 12 assists, 10 points and no turnovers in a single game.
• In those same 20 seasons, Zeigler now has two outings with 12-plus assists and zero turnovers, while every other SEC player combined has three, with the list as follows: Kentucky’s Sahvir Wheeler (Nov. 12, 2021, versus Robert Morris), Tennessee’s Lamonte’ Turner (Nov. 12, 2019, versus Murray State), Kentucky’s Rajon Rondo (Feb. 22, 2006, versus Ole Miss).
• Zeigler is the only player in 2024-25 with 12 points, 12 assists and zero turnovers in a regulation game against a Division I opponent, with the last instance recorded one season ago by Gonzaga’s Ryan Nembhard on March 11, 2024, versus San Francisco in Paradise, Nev.
• Zeigler and Mashack, who already own the school’s four-year wins record, recorded their 107th victory at Tennessee, eclipsing four-and-a-half-year competitor Santiago Vescovi (106) for sole possession of fourth place on the program’s overall wins list.
• Lanier’s six 3-point makes pushed his season total to 116, moving him up to No. 10 on the SEC single-season leaderboard.
• The 116 made 3-pointers for Lanier this season also put him second on Tennessee’s single-season list, as he eclipsed Chris Lofton (114 in 2005-06).
• The 29 points by Lanier eclipsed the 28 by Reggie Johnson on March 6, 1980, against Furman for the most by a Volunteer in an NCAA Tournament win.
• The only Tennessee players to score greater than 29 points in an NCAA Tournament contest are Dalton Knecht (37 on March 31, 2024, versus Purdue) and Ernie Grunfeld (36 on March 13, 1976, versus VMI).
• Lanier registered the 29th 20-point performance of his career, including the 14th in his lone season as a Volunteer, as well as reached 25 points for the 14th time, including the sixth in 2024-25.
• The 29 points for Lanier marked his second-highest total of the season, trailing only the 30 he scored Feb. 22 at Texas A&M.
• The 11 made field goals for Lanier set a new season high—he made 10 on three occasions—and matched his career best, set twice during his North Florida tenure, as he went 11-of-18 both and Jan. 25, 2024, at Bellarmine and Feb. 8, 2024, against North Alabama.
• Lanier’s 11 field goals also tied for the most by a Volunteer this season, equaling the mark set Nov. 17, 2024, by Miličić against Austin Peay.
• Lanier connected on six 3-pointers for the seventh time in his career, including the fifth during his lone year at Tennessee.
• Okpara’s blocked shot upped his 2024-25 tally to 60, matching Doug Roth (60 in 1988-89) for sixth place on Tennessee’s single-season list and becoming the seventh Volunteer to reach 60 in a campaign.
• Sophomore forward Cade Phillips grabbed five rebounds in the victory, his 11th time reaching that mark as a Volunteer, all of which are during the 2024-25 campaign.
• Phillips amassed a 6-of-8 ledger from the free-throw line, setting career highs in both makes and attempts.
• Phillips’ prior high in made free throws with five against Miami on Dec. 10, 2024, in New York, while his previous best in attempts was six, both against the Hurricanes and Dec. 31 versus Norfolk State.
• Freshman guard Bishop Boswell’s layup with 4:47 on the first-half clock marked his third field-goal as a Volunteer, his first points since Dec. 3, 2024, versus Syracuse and his first field goal since Nov. 21, 2024, against Virginia in Nassau, Bahamas.
• The following Volunteers made their NCAA Tournament debuts: Boswell, Lanier, Okpara, fifth-year guard Darlinstone Dubar, freshman guard Campbell Duncan, senior forward Igor Miličić Jr., and freshman guard Gavin Paull.
Late-Inning Comeback Bid Falls Short in Series Opener at #10/12 Alabama
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 1/1 Tennessee came up just short in Thursday night’s series opener at No. 10/12 Alabama, falling 6-5 at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
It was a game of runs as the Volunteers (20-2, 3-1 SEC) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead with a pair of runs in the first and another in the second – highlighted by an Andrew Fischer two-run blast in the top of the first inning – before the Crimson Tide responded with six unanswered runs in the second and third innings.
Alabama (22-1, 4-0 SEC) pounced for five runs in the bottom of the second inning to take the lead. A leadoff single followed by a hit batsman and an error loaded the bases before back-to-back walks and a bases-clearing double by star shortstop Justin Lebron resulted in a 5-3 advantage.
The Tide tacked on another run in the third on an RBI groundout to increase its lead to three after three innings of action.
Neither side was able to score in the middle three innings as both starting pitchers settled in after rocky starts.
Right fielder Bryce Fowler robbed Reese Chapman of a would-be solo home run in the sixth with an impressive leaping grab at the wall, a play that would prove to be pivotal later in the contest.
Liam Doyle suffered his first loss of the season after surrendering six runs (five earned) on six hits and four walks. The junior lefthander did well to battle through his early-game struggles to provide the Big Orange with six important innings to help preserve the bullpen and finished with nine strikeouts on the night.
Late Comeback Comes Up Just Short
Tennessee fought back to cut its deficit to one with a pair of runs in the seventh inning, recording four singles in the frame, including an RBI knock by Hunter Ensley before a sacrifice fly from Fischer to drive in his third run of the game.
The first two batters of the eighth inning reached base but a lineout double play and a strikeout ended the threat. The Vols also had the tying run aboard in the ninth after Jay Abernathy reached base with his third hit of the night, but he was caught stealing before a flyout to right field secured the sixth save of the year for Crimson Tide closer Carson Ozmer.
Loy Looks Good Again
Dylan Loy looked good once again in relief, tossing two scoreless innings to keep UT within striking distance. The sophomore lefty retired all six batters he faced after tossing 3.1 shutout frames in his previous outing against Florida last Sunday.
Up Next
The Vols will look to even the series on Friday night when the two teams meet for game two. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network+ and ESPN app.
Hoops Central: #6 [2] Tennessee vs. [7] UCLA
LEXINGTON, Ky. – After defeating 15th-seeded Wofford in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, the sixth-ranked, second-seeded Tennessee men’s basketball team prepares for a second round bout versus UCLA Saturday night at Rupp Arena. Tipoff is slated for 9:40 p.m. ET.
MORE INFO
GAMEDAY TIMES & BROADCAST INFO
- Opponent: UCLA Bruins
- Tipoff: Saturday, March 22 | 9:40 p.m. ET
- Venue: Rupp Arena
- Watch Online: TBS/truTV
- Online: Listen Live
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THE LATEST FROM THE VOLS
Mashack, Zeigler Selected as Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Finalists#6 [2] Vols Defeat [15] Wofford, 77-62, in NCAA Tournament OpenerGainey Named to ABIS Black Coaches WatchlistZeigler Collects USBWA Third Team All-America RecognitionLanier, Zeigler Voted NABC Third Team All-Americans
Fans can catch Saturday’s game between the Volunteers (28-7) and Bruins (22-10) on TBS/truTV. Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Jim Jackson (analyst) and Allie LaForce (reporter) will have the call.
Fans can also listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear Bob Kesling and Bert Bertelkamp describing the action.
In its most recent action, Tennessee began its program-record seventh straight NCAA Tournament berth Thursday night with a wire-to-wire victory, 77-62, over No. 15-seeded Wofford at Rupp Arena.
UT led for all but the first 13 seconds of the victory, securing a spot in the Round of 32 for the fourth straight season. Fifth-year guard Chaz Lanier dropped 29 points, the third-most by a Volunteer in NCAA Tournament play, while senior guard Zakai Zeigler had a 12-point, 12-assist double-double and broke the school record for career assists in the triumph
THE MATCHUP
• The only prior matchup came on 1/30/77, when #8 UCLA defeated #7 Tennessee, 103-89, in Atlanta.
• Tennessee owns a 35-44 all-time record against the current Big Ten membership. That includes a 66- 64 road win on 12/14/24 at Illinois on a Jordan Gainey buzzer-beater.
• Rick Barnes is 41-40 versus the current Big Ten members, including 8-8 at Tennessee with wins over seven different teams.
• Barnes was 3-1 against UCLA at Texas: a 63-61 road win on 12/2/07, a 68-64 home win on 12/4/08, a 69-59 road win on a 12/3/11 and a 65-63 home loss on 12/8/12.
• The lone prior meeting between Mick Cronin and Rick Barnes came on 3/16/12 in the NCAA Round of 64, a 65-59 Cincinnati win over Texas in Nashville, Tenn.
• UT beat Cronin-led Murray State, 64-53, on 11/30/05 in Nashville.
• UCLA, making its fourth NCAA Round of 32 appearance in the last five years, tied for fourth in its first season in the Big Ten.
• Junior forward Tyler Bilodeau, a Third Team All-Big Ten choice, paces the Bruins with 13.5 ppg.
NEWS & NOTES
• Jahmai Mashack is from Fontana, Calif., just 66 miles east of UCLA. This is his second time facing a home-state school while at UT. The Volunteers defeated USC, 73- 66 (OT), in the Battle 4 Atlantis semifinals on 11/24/22 in Paradise Island, Bahamas, en route to winning the title.
• In the victory over Wofford, Zakai Zeigler became, per Elias Sports Bureau, the sixth player in the last 50 years (1975-2025) with 12 points, 12 assists and no turnovers in NCAA Tournament play, joining Colorado’s McKinley Wright IV (2021), UCLA’s Earl Watson (2000), Bradley’s Jim Les (1986), Indiana’s Isiah Thomas (1981) and Missouri’s Larry Drew (1980).
• Chaz Lanier scored 29 points in his NCAA Tournament debut, good for the third-most ever by a Volunteer in the event and the most in a win. His six 3-pointers tied UT’s single-game record in NCAA Tournament action.
• Lanier (116) is now just two made 3-pointers shy of the Tennessee single-season record of 118, set in 2007-08 by Chris Lofton.
• The Vols are 29-27 all-time in NCAA Tournament play, including 10-6 under Rick Barnes, who has the most such wins in program history. More on Pages 10-11.
• Tennessee is looking to reach the NCAA Sweet 16 for the third straight year. It would be the first such instance in program history.
• With 834 wins, Rick Barnes is tied with John Calipari for ninth all- time (min. 10 years in DI) and for the most among active coaches.
• Zakai Zeigler’s 254 assists, a UT single-season best, are six shy of the SEC record (260 by Sean Tuohy 1979-80). His 726 career assists are a program record and the third-most in SEC history.
• Tennessee’s 199 wins over the last eight seasons (2017-25) rank co-sixth in DI, alongside Auburn, Liberty and Saint Mary’s. Only Gonzaga (239), Houston (239), Duke (216), Kansas (212) and Purdue (205) own more.
• The Vols, who reached 25 regular season victories for the third time, are in seeking their third 29-win campaign. They went 31-6 in 2018- 19 and 31-5 in 2007-08.
ALL-SEC ACCOLADES
• Zakai Zeigler and Chaz Lanier both won individual SEC awards from the league’s head coaches. Zeigler earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year plaudits for the second straight season, while Lanier claimed the inaugural SEC Newcomer of the Year honor.
• The league’s coaches tabbed Zeigler a First Team All-SEC competitor and Lanier a Second Team All- SEC designee. Zeigler is the 14th player in program history with at least three All-SEC nods that include two first-team choices. The others are Dale Ellis, Ernie Grunfeld, Allan Houston, Gilbert Huffman, Reggie Johnson, Bill Justus, Bernard King, Len Kosmalski, Chris Lofton, Dyron Nix, Paul “Lefty” Walther, Tony White and Ron Widby.
• Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack both made the cut for the coaches’ SEC All-Defensive Team. This is just the ninth season—10th instance—with multiple players from the same team receiving SEC All-Defensive Team honors, including the second in a row for UT.
• Meanwhile, in the Associated Press voting, Lanier collected First Team All-SEC distinction and Zeigler garnered Second Team All-SEC status.
A PAIR OF ALL-AMERICANS
• Chaz Lanier and Zakai Zeigler both earned The Sporting News Third Team All-America and NABC Third Team All-America plaudits. No other school put multiple players on either list.
• Zeigler was also tabbed an AP Third Team All- American and a USBWA Third Team All-American, while Lanier picked up AP All-America Honorable Mention recognition.
• Ernie Grunfeld and Bernard King form the only other same-season All-American tandem in Tennessee history. They each earned All-America plaudits in both 1975-76 and 1976-77.
• Lanier and Zeigler are also the lone teammate pair on the Wooden Award Top 15 National Ballot, from which the Wooden All-Americans and Wooden Award winner will be selected.
• The guards also form one of just three teammate tandems to make the 30-man Lute Olson Award finalist list.
RACKING UP RANKED VICTORIES
• TOP 25: In the past four years (2021-25), Tennessee’s 29 AP top-25 wins lead DI. Only Alabama (closest SEC team with 26), Connecticut (26), Kansas (26), Iowa State (25) and Purdue (23) are within seven.
• TOP 20: Tennessee is first in the nation with 25 AP top-20 triumphs over that span. Only Connecticut (24), Kansas (22) and Alabama (closest SEC team with 21) are even within five.
• TOP 15: The Volunteers lead DI with 22 AP top-15 decisions over those four years. Kansas (20) and Alabama (closest SEC team with 18) are the only schools even within five.
• TOP 10: Since 2021-22, Tennessee owns 12 AP top-10 wins, co-first nationally, alongside Connecticut (12), Iowa State (12) and Kansas (12). The only school within one is Kentucky (closest SEC team with 11). A full list of the 12 wins is on Page 12 (left sidebar).
• TOP FIVE: In that same four-year span, UT has seven AP top-five victories, the most in the country. Only four other schools have even five: Alabama (six), Arizona (six), Florida (five) and Iowa State (five).
• TOP THREE: The Vols have four AP top-three wins in those four years, matching Alabama (four), Arizona (four) and Florida (four) for the DI lead.
HIGH-CALIBER COMPANY
• Tennessee and Kansas are the only two schools to earn an AP top-five ranking in each of the last four seasons (2021-25). Only two others, Arizona and Purdue, entered 2024-25 with a three-year streak.
• The Volunteers are one of only four teams to reach the AP top six in each of the past five seasons, alongside Alabama, Houston and Kansas.
• UT is one of just five programs to reach the AP top six in at least six of the last seven seasons (2018- 25), alongside Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas and Kentucky. Those are also the only five schools to enter the AP top five in at least five different years in that stretch.
• The Vols are among only eight teams to reach the No. 1 spot in the AP Poll in at least two of the last seven seasons (2018-25), joining Auburn, Baylor, Duke, Gonzaga, Houston, Kansas and Purdue.
• Over that same seven-year stretch (2018-25), UT is also one of seven teams to claim an AP top-two position in at least three seasons, alongside Baylor, Connecticut, Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas and Purdue.
• UT is one of seven schools with an AP top-20 ranking in each of the last eight years (2017-25), alongside Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State and North Carolina. Just two others—Houston and Purdue—have even been AP top-25 each season.
• Additionally, over the last three years (2022-25), the Vols are one of just six teams to reach the AP top two in multiple seasons, joining Alabama, Connecticut, Duke, Kansas and Purdue.
QUITE THE CAMPAIGN
• Tennessee’s nine AP top-25 wins this season are its most ever, eclipsing the seven it had in both 2023- 24 and 2021-22. It has tallied at least seven in three of the last four years after never before doing so.
• UT has seven AP top-15 wins this year, passing 2021- 22 (six) for the most in school history. The Vols had five in 2022-23, giving them five-plus in three of the last four years after never before hitting that mark.
• This is the third time in program history, including the second in Rick Barnes‘ tenure, the Vols have logged four AP top-seven (or even AP top-10) victories in a single season, joining 2021-22 and 1976-77.
• Tennessee has 25-plus wins in a season for the ninth time, including the sixth under Rick Barnes (all in the last eight years) and the fourth in a row. It reached 25 victories in the regular season for the third time, joining 2018-19 (27-4) and 2007-08 (28-3).
• The Volunteers own 28-plus wins for the fourth time (second under Barnes). They went 31-6 in 2018-19, 28-9 in 2009-10 and 31-5 in 2007-08.
TOP-TIER TRIUMPHS
• Tennessee is 43-42 (.506) against AP top-25 foes under Rick Barnes, including 27-15 (.643) in its past 42 such games (since 1/22/22).
• The Volunteers are 37-34 (.521) versus AP top-20 teams in Barnes’ tenure, including 23-11 (.676) in their last 34 such affairs (since 1/22/22).
• UT is 29-27 (.518) against AP top-15 teams in the Barnes era, including 22-10 (.688) in its last 32 such games (since 12/22/21).
• The Vols own a 17-16 (.515) record versus AP top-10 foes under Barnes, including a 15-10 (.600) mark in their last 25 such contests (since 3/2/19) and a 12-7 (.632) tally in their last 19 (since 12/22/21).
• UT is 11-10 (.524) against AP top-five foes in Barnes’ tenure, including 7-5 (.583) in its last 12 such affairs (since 2/15/22). It is 9-3 (.750) versus AP top-five SEC teams, including 8-2 (.800) in its last 10 such outings (since 3/2/19).
STRONG IN THE STANDINGS
• Tennessee finished fourth in the SEC this season. It marked the program’s seventh top-four finish in the last eight years, including its fifth in a row.
• The Volunteers are the only team in the league to place top-four each of the past five seasons. Only three others have done it multiple times: Alabama (four), Auburn (three) and Kentucky (three).
• UT is also the only school to place top-four in seven of the last eight campaigns. Just three others have done it even four times: Auburn (six), Kentucky (six) and Alabama (four).
SENSATIONAL SIX
• Tennessee, Drake, Duke, Gonzaga, Houston and Saint Mary’s are the only schools with 25-plus wins each of the past four seasons (2021-22 to 2024-25).
• Only two others, Arizona and Purdue, entered 2024- 25 with a three-year streak and can still join that list.
TENNESSEE TORCHBEARER
• On 3/7/25, Chancellor Donde Plowman surpised Jahmai Mashack before a team film session by naming him a Torchbearer, which is the highest student honor conferred by the University of Tennessee. He was one of just 10 individuals to receive the prestigious distinction in 2025.
• Mashack is the fourth men’s basketball to win the award, joining Carl Langschmidt (1953), Byrl Logan (1939) and Charles Lucas (1931).
• Mashack and swimmer Griffin Hadley, a fellow 2025 winner, are the first male non-football student- athletes to receive the honor in 72 years, dating to Langschmidt. The only other male student-athletes to garner it during that time are football standouts Joshua Dobbs (2016) and Trey Smith (2020).
• The award is given for academic achievement and outstanding commitment to others as demonstrated by the student’s various activities and significant contributions to the university and the community.
#1/1 Vols Even Series with Gritty Win Over #10/12 Tide
Read Online | Box Score (PDF) | Download Postgame Media
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 1/1 Tennessee gutted out a hard-fought 10-7 victory on Friday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium to even its series with No. 10/12 Alabama.
For the second straight game, the Big Orange jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the first and two more in the second to chase Crimson Tide starter Riley Quick, who had allowed just three runs total this season entering the night, after just two innings.
The first three batters of the game all reached base and came around to score for the Vols in their three-run first inning. Andrew Fischer made it four straight batters to reach base with an RBI single before Reese Chapman drove in the final run of the frame with an RBI fielder’s choice.
A pair of RBI singles by Jay Abernathy and Hunter Ensley in the second inning increased the UT lead to 5-0 in the early going before Alabama answered with its first two runs of the game in the bottom of the third. Ensley led the Vols with his third straight multi-hit effort, finishing 3-for-4 with two runs, two RBIs and three stolen bases.
Tennessee (21-2, 4-1 SEC) never trailed in the game but was never able to build a real comfortable lead either, as the Tide continued to battle throughout the night.
After the two sides traded runs in the seventh, the Vols put together an impressive two-out rally in the eighth to score four runs and build their largest lead of the game at 10-4.
After a strikeout and a flyout to start the inning. nine-hole hitter Ariel Antigua got the rally started with an infield single before Curley blasted a two-run homer to left center for his seventh long ball of the year.
Following Curley’s homer, a pair of walks and a hit batter loaded the bases before Dalton Bargo came through with his second RBI hit of the game, lacing a single into center field to plate two more runs and extend the UT lead to six.
Despite the big inning by the Vols, the Crimson Tide (22-2, 4-1 SEC) continued to fight, answering with a run in the bottom of the eight before scoring two more in the bottom of the ninth and bringing the tying run to the plate with one out.
The duo of Andrew Behnke and Tanner Franklin was able to end the comeback bid with a pair of big outs to close out the game and secure Tennessee’s first road win of the year.
Bargo Big Off the Bench
Bargo finished the night 2-for-2 with three RBIs after entering the game as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning. His first knock was a two-out double to score Fischer from first base.
Two Out Hitting the Difference
Two-out hitting was pivotal for the Big Orange on Friday night, as they scored seven of their 10 runs – including all seven after the first inning – with two away. UT was 7-for-15 at the plate with two outs as a team and 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position, a stark difference from Thursday’s game one loss.
Notable Performances on the Mound
Marcus Phillips provided the Vols with another solid start, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits while striking out three over 4.2 innings of work.
Dylan Loy picked up his team-leading fourth win of the year after getting Tennessee out of a big jam in the bottom of the fifth inning, striking out Brennan Norton to strand the bases loaded, keeping the Vols lead intact.
Nate Snead allowed four runs but battled to provide UT with 3.1 important innings of relief before handing the ball off to Behnke and Franklin in the ninth. Franklin struck out Will Plattner with runners on first and second to end the game and earn his second save of the season.
Up Next
The Vols and Tide will meet at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday in a series-deciding rubber game that will be streamed on the SEC Network+ and ESPN app.
Lady Vol Three-Point Barrage Sinks USF, 101-66, In NCAA First Round
Read Online | Box Score (PDF) | Video Downloads | Photo Download | Watch Press Conference | Watch Highlights | Press Conference Transcript
COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 20 Tennessee opened its 43rd-straight NCAA appearance in dominant fashion on Friday night, hitting 16 three-pointers and smashing the SEC season record for treys during a 101-66 triumph in NCAA First Round play at the Schottenstein Center.
The Lady Vols (23-9), who are seeded fifth in the Birmingham 3 Regional, came in needing three buckets beyond the arc to surpass the previous mark of 314 by Arkansas in 2019-20 and took care of that with four alone in the first quarter. Jewel Spear’s deep ball with 5:13 to go was the record-breaker. UT’s 16 threes, meanwhile, was a program NCAA Tournament record, ranked second in all games in school history and tied for second most in NCAA Women’s Tournament history.
Redshirt sophomore guard Talaysia Cooper, one of three Lady Vols to hit three treys and one of eight UT players to connect from beyond the arc, led her team with 20 points, six rebounds and two steals. Samara Spencer hit a trio of three-pointers to finish with 15 points and five assists, while Zee Spearman matched Spencer’s total from long range and netted 13 points, and Spear added 11.
USF (23-11) was paced by Sammie Puisis, who knocked down five threes and finished with 28 points. L’or Mputu contributed 12, as her team was unable to keep pace with a deep Lady Vols squad that featured a 54-3 bench points advantage. The Bulls also suffered 24 turnovers and were outscored on points off turnovers by the Lady Vols, 36-10.
Spencer opened the game with a three-pointer just 10 seconds in, but South Florida responded with a 7-0 flurry to seize a 7-3 lead by the 8:18 mark. A 13-6 response by the Lady Vols, fueled by threes from Tess Darby and Spear, though, sent them into the media timeout with a 16-13 advantage. Back-to-back layups by Cooper and Alyssa Latham lifted UT to its biggest lead, 20-15, with 3:57 to go, but USF evened things at 20 by the 2:50 mark on a Puisis three contributing to her 15 first-quarter points. A Cooper three and a Kaniya Boyd layup helped close out the opening stanza with a 26-25 lead, as UT scored 12 of its points off 10 Bulls turnovers.
Tennessee exploded to a 15-4 start at the outset of the second period, with Spearman hitting a pair of threes during that spree and then a Spencer layup and Cooper trey extending the lead to 12, 41-29, with 7:08 remaining and forcing a Bulls timeout. The Lady Vols twice widened the gap to 13, getting a Cooper free throw to make it 42-29 with 6:37 to go and then a Spearman trey to increase it to 45-32 as the teams went to a media timeout with 4:49 to go. After allowing a Carla Brito tip-in, Tennessee scored the next 10 points to close out the half, with Cooper and Spencer threes running UT’s total of deep balls to 10 in the first half and sending their team into the locker room on top by 21, 55-34.
The Lady Vols opened the second half with a layup from Cooper and a jumper by Spencer to increase the margin to 25, 59-34, with 8:43 remaining in the third quarter. The teams exchanged baskets, with UT taking a 67-46 advantage into the 4:55 media break. A 7-0 USF run, including a bucket right before that timeout, enabled the Bulls to whittle the deficit to 16, 67-51, by the 4:43 mark, but a Spencer three and a Latham steal and layup pushed the margin back to 21, 72-51, forcing South Florida to ask for time with 2:24 left in the period. A three by Spear, a Cooper layup off an inbound pass and a Latham driving layup helped their team head into the final frame with a 79-56 lead.
The Big Orange began the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run and rode a 15-7 burst into the 4:11 media timeout, with a pair of threes by Darby pushing the lead to 94-63 by the 4:11 media timeout. As Tennessee closed out the game, a Sara Puckett three-pointer and a turnaround jumper in the paint rounded out the scoring and pushed the Big Orange past 100 points.
UP NEXT: Tennessee advances to the NCAA Second Round and will face No. 4 seed and No. 15/13-ranked Ohio State (26-6) on Sunday. Tip time and TV designation will be announced later. The contest also will be available on Lady Vol Network radio stations statewide and via audio stream on UTSports.com.
SIXTEEN TREYS AGAINST THE BULLS: The Lady Vols drained 16 three-pointers versus South Florida. It marked a school-best 17th time that UT has made 10 or more treys in a single game this season. The 16 tied for the second most in school history, the best by the Lady Vols in an NCAA Tournament game and tied for second best of any team in NCAA Tournament history.
SINKING THE LONG BALL INTO HISTORY: After hitting 16 deep balls vs. USF, Tennessee now has made 328 three-pointers this season, breaking the SEC record of 314 set by Arkansas during the 2019-20 campaign. Tennessee notched its highest three-point game against N.C. Central on Dec. 14, 2024, draining an NCAA, SEC and school-record 30 treys.
A RECORD-SETTING 100-POINT AFFAIR: The Lady Vols scored 100 points for the seventh time in 2024-25, tying the program record for most trips above the century mark in a season with the 1987-88 squad. That gives the program 94 all-time scoring efforts of 100 or more points through the USF contest.
SUCCESS IN THE BIG DANCE: Tennessee made its 43rd straight appearance in the NCAA First/Second Rounds, and it now owns a 65-6 record during games played in those rounds. The Lady Vols improved to 35-2 all-time in the NCAA First Round.
MISCUE MADNESS: The Lady Vols forced the Bulls to turn the ball over 24 times, making them the 20th team this season to commit at least 20 miscues. UT used that to build a 36-10 points-off-turnovers differential vs. USF.
17TH NEW STARTING LINEUP: Tennessee crafted its 17th different starting lineup of the season on Friday, with Jewel Spear, Samara Spencer, Tess Darby, Ruby Whitehorn and Jillian Hollingshead opening the contest against the Bulls. Ten different players have been in the starting lineup for the Big Orange this season.
THP: 63-Year-Old Injured, Facing Charges after Crashing Dump Truck into Vehicles in Jefferson Co.
Jefferson County, TN (WOKI) A dump truck driver is facing charges after blowing through a stop sign and crashing into a construction vehicle Friday morning on Highway 411 near the Chestnut Hill area of Jefferson County.
Officials with the Tennessee Highway Patrol say 63-year-old Christopher Moore was traveling southbound on 411 near State Highway 92 just after 7:00 a.m. when he failed to stop at a stop sign, crossed State Highway 92 and went through a road construction barrier into a construction zone, crashing into the front end of a road grader.
Moore was injured in the crash and taken by helicopter to the hospital.
He is facing charges including driving without a license and failure to obey a traffic control device.
Saturday ‘Real ID’ Appointments Now Available at Select Tennessee Driver Services Centers
The Department of Safety and Homeland Security announced today that it will begin offering additional Saturday appointments at 14 Driver Services Centers across the state for current Tennessee credential holders who want to get a REAL ID.
Saturday appointments will begin at 13 participating Driver Services Centers starting this Saturday, March 22. The Savannah Driver Services Center will offer Saturday appointments starting March 29. Saturday appointments will continue through the May 7th REAL ID implementation date.
Participating Middle Tennessee Service Centers
- Clarksville Driver Services Center – 220 West Dunbar Cave Road
- Columbia Driver Services Center – 1701 Hampshire Pike
- Cookeville Driver Services Center – 4600 South Jefferson Ave.
- Nashville/Hickory Hollow Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 5216 Hickory Hollow Pkwy.
Participating West Tennessee Service Centers
- Bartlett Express Services Center – 6340 Summer Ave.
- Jackson Driver Services Center – 100 Benchmark Circle
- Memphis/East Shelby Drive Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 3200 East Shelby Drive
- Oakland Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 160 Beau Tisdale Drive
- Savannah Driver Services Center – 1016 Pickwick St. *beginning March 29
Participating East Tennessee Service Centers
- Chattanooga/Bonny Oaks Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 6502 Bonny Oaks Drive
- Johnson City Driver Services Center – 4717 Lake Park Drive
- Knoxville/Strawberry Plains Driver Services Center – 7320 Region Lane
- Morristown County Driver Services Center – 1551 East Morris Boulevard, Suite 2
- Oak Ridge Driver Services Center – 475 Oak Ridge Turnpike
To take advantage of the new expanded Saturday appointments, applicants must already have a valid Tennessee driver license or identification card. REAL ID applicants who do not currently hold a valid Tennessee credential will be served during regular, Monday to Friday hours.
Saturday hours are available by appointment only. Applicants without a REAL ID appointment will not be served during the new Saturday hours. Schedule your REAL ID appointment now at tnrealid.gov.
REAL ID applicants must bring proof of U.S. citizenship or legal presence, proof of their Social Security Number, and two proofs of Tennessee residency. If your name has changed, you must also bring certified legal documents supporting the name change(s). This could include marriage licenses, divorce decrees, etc. All documents must be original or certified copies. Photocopies are not accepted.
The TDOSHS encourages all applicants to have their REAL ID required documents pre-approved online. Pre-approved documents can save you in-person processing time at the Driver Services Center and may eliminate repeat trips. A complete list of accepted documents and the pre-approval portal are available at tnrealid.gov.
For more information about Tennessee REAL ID, visit tnrealid.gov.
TN Attorney General Warns Against Home Improvement Fraud
Knoxville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) Experts say home improvement projects pick up in the spring, but so do scams.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti says if you’re considering hiring a contractor, you want to watch out for fraudulent contractors.
“Home improvement scams top the list of consumer complaints received by our Division of Consumer Affairs,” Skrmetti said. “If you’re planning to renovate this spring, make sure your contractor really is licensed and bonded—don’t take their word for it. Do your due diligence before you trust anyone with your money.”
The Board of Licensing Contractors got 884 complaints in 2024 and handed out more than $990,000 in civil penalties from nearly 300 of those complaints; they suggest doing your own research before hiring a contractor to include checking the status of a contractor’s or a businesses’ license through Verify.tn.gov.
The office warned of some red flags to watch out for: door-to-door sales, high-pressure sales tactics like short-time deals and demanding full payment up front.
To file a complaint about the license of a contractor or home improvement company, you can do so on the board’s website.
To file a complaint about a deceptive business practice, you can do so with the Division of Consumer Affairs.
Sheriff’s Office Charges Juvenile with Rape of Child in Blount County
Maryville, TN (WOKI) A teen in Blount County has been arrested and charged with raping a child.
Officials with the Blount County Sheriff’s Office say an investigation this week confirmed that a 4-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted by a 14-year-old boy while she was attending an in-home daycare in Blount County.
The teen has been charged with two counts of aggravated rape of a child by delinquent and is currently being held at the Blount County Juvenile facility pending a hearing in Blount County Juvenile Court.
According to the sheriff’s office, investigators are working a parallel investigation with DCS into the incident and are in the process of trying to identify and confirm other possible victims.
BCSO says the daycare owner has voluntarily closed her business and the investigation is ongoing at this time.
TDOT with a Construction Message Which will Affect Motorists in Knox and Cocke Counties
TRAFFIC ALERT
KNOX COUNTY
KNOXVILLE – Motorists traveling on I-40 West in Knox County should be aware of upcoming road construction activities that will have a temporary impact on traffic.
Beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 21, traffic on the exit ramp from I-40 West to Watt Road (Exit 369) will be shifted to the inside lane. In addition, traffic on the on-ramp from Watt Road (Exit 369) to I-40 West will be shifted to the inside shoulder.
These traffic shifts will each be complete by 6 a.m. on Monday, March 24.
This schedule is contingent on favorable weather conditions. Motorists are advised to expect delays and use extreme caution in this area as workers will be present.
As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and “Know Before You Go!” by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.
TRAFFIC ALERT
COCKE COUNTY
KNOXVILLE – Motorists traveling on U.S. 25E (State Route 32) in Cocke County should be aware of upcoming road construction activities that will have an impact on traffic.
Beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 21, U.S. 25E (State Route 32) will be closed between Lehigh Road and Hilltop Drive as crews will be installing a pipe culvert beneath the roadway. This closure will end on or before 6 a.m. on Monday, March 24.
Signage will be in place to direct motorists to the detour route.
This schedule is contingent on favorable weather conditions. Motorists are advised to expect delays and use extreme caution in this area as workers will be present.
As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and “Know Before You Go!” by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.
#6 [2] Vols Defeat [15] Wofford, 77-62, in NCAA Tournament Opener
- Box Score (PDF)
- Season Stats
- VIDEO: Tennessee Postgame
- VIDEO: Wofford Postgame
- Highlights
- Photo Gallery
Game Recap: Men’s Basketball | March 20, 2025
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The second-seeded University of Tennessee men’s basketball team began its program-record seventh straight NCAA Tournament berth Thursday night with a wire-to-wire victory, 77-62, over No. 15-seeded Wofford at Rupp Arena.
Sixth-ranked Tennessee (28-7, 12-6 SEC) led for all but the first 13 seconds of the victory, claiming a spot in the Round of 32 for the fourth straight season. Fifth-year guard Chaz Lanier dropped 29 points, the third-most by a Volunteer in NCAA Tournament play, while senior guard Zakai Zeigler had a 12-point, 12-assist double-double and broke the school record for career assists in the triumph.
The Volunteers, midway through the first half, scored 12 straight points—seven came from Lanier—in 2:58 to claim a 22-8 advantage with 11:02 on the timer. The stretch came during a span of six straight made field goals.
Wofford (19-16, 10-8 SOCON), after a 3:55 scoreless drought, responded with back-to-back 3-pointers to make it an eight-point game just 65 ticks later, but Tennessee thrice stretched the margin back to 13. The Terriers got the margin down to eight twice more before the Volunteers took a nine-point edge 36-27, into the break behind 14 points from Lanier and a 5-0 margin in points off turnovers, despite the teams posting four apiece.
Just 4:27 into the second stanza, the Volunteers got the lead back to 14, but Wofford countered with a three-point play and a 3-pointer in 89 seconds to make it 48-40 with 13:33 to go. Tennessee regained control and built the cushion to a then-game-best 16, 61-45, with 10:35 left during a span in which it hit six consecutive field-goal attempts.
The Terriers soon made three shots in a row on their end to get it down to nine, but junior forward Felix Okpara threw down dunks on the next to possession to give Tennessee a 13-point margin, 68-55, with 7:08 to play. The victors went up by 17 with 1:58 to go and then by a game-high 18 with 41 ticks on the timer, after which Wofford hit a 3-pointer to close the scoring and make it a 15-point final margin.
Lanier’s 29 points, the most ever by a Volunteer in an NCAA Tournament win, came on an 11-of-22 field-goal clip to match his career best in makes. He shot 6-of-13 from long range to tie the most single-game 3-point makes in the NCAA Tournament in program history. The Nashville, Tenn., native added five rebounds, two steals, one assist and one block in the win.
Zeigler scored his 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the floor, including a 2-of-5 mark from deep, and a perfect 2-of-2 showing at the line. The 12 assists, his fifth-most as a collegian and third-highest total of 2024-25, tied for the second-most by a Volunteer in NCAA Tournament competition. The Long Island, N.Y., native, who committed zero turnovers in 37 minutes and notched two assists, is the sixth player in the last 50 seasons (1975-2025), per Elias Sports Bureau, with 12 points, 12 assists and no turnovers in an NCAA Tournament affair.
Senior guard Jahmai Mashack added nine points, a game-best seven rebounds and two steals in the triumph.
Jackson Sivills, playing in his home state, paced the Terriers with 15 points. Fellow senior guard Corey Tripp had 14, but Tennessee held him to 6-of-17 field-goal shooting. Sophomore forward Jeremy Lorenz registered 12 points and junior guard Justin Bailey scored 10, with both shooting 4-of-6 from the field, including 2-of-3 beyond the arc.
Both sides made double-digit 3-pointers—Wofford went 11-of-26 (42.3 percent) and Tennessee shot 10-of-28 (35.7 percent)—but the Volunteers had a plus-10 margin in points at the line. They shot 15-of-22 (68.2 percent) compared to the Terriers’ 5-of-9 (55.6 percent) ledger.
Tennessee, which shot 26-of-54 (48.1 percent) overall, also did not allow a single point on the fast break or via turnover, ending the night with 3-0 and 14-0 tallies, respectively.
The Volunteers will take on either seventh-seeded UCLA in the Round of 32, with tip-off at Rupp Arena set for Saturday at 9:40 p.m., live on TBS and truTV.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS POSTGAME NOTES
• Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes upped his career win total to 834, remaining tied with John Calipari for the ninth-most all-time (min. 10 years in Division I) and for the most among active coaches.
• Barnes also increased his career NCAA Tournament record to 31-28, good for the sixth-most victories of any active Division I head coach and the second-most in the SEC.
• This is the 17th time in 29 trips to the NCAA Tournament that Barnes has led his team to the Round of 32, including the sixth in seven appearances at Tennessee.
• The Volunteers improved to 29-27 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, including 25-25 in regulation, 17-8 in the first round, 1-1 in Kentucky, 1-0 in Lexington and 1-0 against Wofford.
• Tennessee is now 9-4 as a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, as well as 5-0 against No. 15 seeds, 17-4 versus double-digit seeds and 24-11 against lower seeds.
• The Volunteers played an NCAA Tournament game at a fellow conference member’s arena for the second time ever, joining a 93-88 overtime setback against Syracuse in Baton Rouge, La., on March 13, 1977.
• Tennessee now has a four-year streak of reaching the Round of 32 for the second time ever, joining a five-year stretch from 1978-79 to 1982-83.
• The Volunteers improved to 9-0 all-time against Wofford—its fourth-most wins against any school without a loss—with this the first meeting at a neutral site.
• Thursday’s victory marked Tennessee’s 100th over the current SoCon membership, as it now owns a 100-17 record.
• Barnes is now 26-1 in his career against current SoCon members—that is good for his second-most wins without multiple losses against any league—including 11-1 at Tennessee.
• Tennessee has reached the 28-win mark for the fourth time ever, including the second in Barnes’ tenure, with the 2024-25 campaign joining 2018-19 (31-6), 2009-10 (28-9) and 2007-08 (31-5).
• The Volunteers did not make a field goal for the final 4:47 of the first half and the first 45 seconds of the second, a total span of 5:32.
• Wofford committed its seventh foul of the second half just 6:46 into the frame, putting Tennessee in the bonus with 13:14 to play, and
• Tennessee has conceded 35 or fewer first-half points in 28 of its 35 contests thus far, including 29 or fewer on 16 occasions and 23 or fewer eight times.
• The Volunteers have held a halftime advantage in 23 of their 35 outings this season, including a margin of seven-plus points 14 times, double digits 11 times, 12-plus 10 times, 14-plus eight times, 20-plus four times and 23-plus thrice.
• The Volunteers have held a lead of 15-plus points in 20 of their 35 contests this season, including leading by 18-plus in 18 of them, 20-plus in 15, 26-plus in 11 and 32-plus in five.
• Twenty of Tennessee’s 28 wins are by double digits, with 18 by 12-plus points, nine by at least 20, four by at least 35 and two by 40-plus.
• The 12 assists for Zeigler upped his career mark to 726, moving him past Johnny Darden (715 from 1975-79) for the Tennessee career record and the third-most in SEC history.
• Zeigler tied the record on the first possession of game, just 13 seconds into the contest, hitting Mashack for a 3-pointer and then broke it with 17:01 on the first-half timer on a 3-pointer by Lanier.
• Zeigler’s 12 assists also moved his season total to 254, passing Kentucky’s Tyler Ulis (246 in 2015-16) for the second-most in a campaign in SEC history, behind only Ole Miss’ Sean Tuohy (260 in 1979-80).
• Zeigler’s two steals moved his career total to 247, passing LSU’s Torris Bright (245 from 1999-2003) for sole possession of the No. 10 spot on the SEC all-time leaderboard.
• Zeigler made his 135th appearance as a Volunteer, tying Kyle Alexander (2015-19) for seventh place in program history.
• The 37 minutes for Zeigler upped his career tally to 3,923, eclipsing Brandon Wharton (3,904 from 1995-99) for eighth-most in Tennessee history.
• Zeigler now owns two of the five double-digit assist performances by a Volunteer in NCAA tournament play, as he logged 10 on March 21, 2024, against Saint Peter’s.
• The 12 assists matched Johnny Darden’s total on March 13, 1977, against Syracuse for the second-most by a Tennessee player in the NCAA Tournament, trailing just the 16 by Bert Bertelkamp on March 8, 1980, against Furman.
• In both of Zeigler’s 10-assist NCAA Tournament showings, he also had 10-plus points, giving him the only two points/assists double-doubles ever by a Volunteer in the event.
• Zeigler amassed double-digit assists for the 14th time in his career, including the sixth in 2024-25, with this his fifth time—third this year—posting 12-plus.
• Zeigler now owns 13 double-doubles in his career, with 12 of them—seven more than any other Volunteer—featuring points and assists.
• Over the last 50 seasons (1975-2025), Zeigler is, per the Elias Sports Bureau, the sixth player to compile at least 12 points, 12 assists and zero turnovers in an NCAA Tournament game, joining the following individuals: Colorado’s McKinley Wright IV (March 20, 2021, versus Georgetown), UCLA’s Earl Watson (March 18, 2000, versus Maryland), Bradley’s Jim Les (March 13, 1986, versus UTEP), Indiana’s Isiah Thomas (March 14, 1981, versus Maryland) and Missouri’s Larry Drew (March 8, 1980, versus Notre Dame).
• Across those 50 years, Zeigler is, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the 10th player with even 12 assists and zero turnovers, regardless of point total, in an NCAA Tournament affair.
• Zeigler is the only SEC player in the last 20 years (2005-25) with 12 assists, 10 points and no turnovers in a single game.
• In those same 20 seasons, Zeigler now has two outings with 12-plus assists and zero turnovers, while every other SEC player combined has three, with the list as follows: Kentucky’s Sahvir Wheeler (Nov. 12, 2021, versus Robert Morris), Tennessee’s Lamonte’ Turner (Nov. 12, 2019, versus Murray State), Kentucky’s Rajon Rondo (Feb. 22, 2006, versus Ole Miss).
• Zeigler is the only player in 2024-25 with 12 points, 12 assists and zero turnovers in a regulation game against a Division I opponent, with the last instance recorded one season ago by Gonzaga’s Ryan Nembhard on March 11, 2024, versus San Francisco in Paradise, Nev.
• Zeigler and Mashack, who already own the school’s four-year wins record, recorded their 107th victory at Tennessee, eclipsing four-and-a-half-year competitor Santiago Vescovi (106) for sole possession of fourth place on the program’s overall wins list.
• Lanier’s six 3-point makes pushed his season total to 116, moving him up to No. 10 on the SEC single-season leaderboard.
• The 116 made 3-pointers for Lanier this season also put him second on Tennessee’s single-season list, as he eclipsed Chris Lofton (114 in 2005-06).
• The 29 points by Lanier eclipsed the 28 by Reggie Johnson on March 6, 1980, against Furman for the most by a Volunteer in an NCAA Tournament win.
• The only Tennessee players to score greater than 29 points in an NCAA Tournament contest are Dalton Knecht (37 on March 31, 2024, versus Purdue) and Ernie Grunfeld (36 on March 13, 1976, versus VMI).
• Lanier registered the 29th 20-point performance of his career, including the 14th in his lone season as a Volunteer, as well as reached 25 points for the 14th time, including the sixth in 2024-25.
• The 29 points for Lanier marked his second-highest total of the season, trailing only the 30 he scored Feb. 22 at Texas A&M.
• The 11 made field goals for Lanier set a new season high—he made 10 on three occasions—and matched his career best, set twice during his North Florida tenure, as he went 11-of-18 both and Jan. 25, 2024, at Bellarmine and Feb. 8, 2024, against North Alabama.
• Lanier’s 11 field goals also tied for the most by a Volunteer this season, equaling the mark set Nov. 17, 2024, by Miličić against Austin Peay.
• Lanier connected on six 3-pointers for the seventh time in his career, including the fifth during his lone year at Tennessee.
• Okpara’s blocked shot upped his 2024-25 tally to 60, matching Doug Roth (60 in 1988-89) for sixth place on Tennessee’s single-season list and becoming the seventh Volunteer to reach 60 in a campaign.
• Sophomore forward Cade Phillips grabbed five rebounds in the victory, his 11th time reaching that mark as a Volunteer, all of which are during the 2024-25 campaign.
• Phillips amassed a 6-of-8 ledger from the free-throw line, setting career highs in both makes and attempts.
• Phillips’ prior high in made free throws with five against Miami on Dec. 10, 2024, in New York, while his previous best in attempts was six, both against the Hurricanes and Dec. 31 versus Norfolk State.
• Freshman guard Bishop Boswell’s layup with 4:47 on the first-half clock marked his third field-goal as a Volunteer, his first points since Dec. 3, 2024, versus Syracuse and his first field goal since Nov. 21, 2024, against Virginia in Nassau, Bahamas.
• The following Volunteers made their NCAA Tournament debuts: Boswell, Lanier, Okpara, fifth-year guard Darlinstone Dubar, freshman guard Campbell Duncan, senior forward Igor Miličić Jr., and freshman guard Gavin Paull.
Late-Inning Comeback Bid Falls Short in Series Opener at #10/12 Alabama
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 1/1 Tennessee came up just short in Thursday night’s series opener at No. 10/12 Alabama, falling 6-5 at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
It was a game of runs as the Volunteers (20-2, 3-1 SEC) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead with a pair of runs in the first and another in the second – highlighted by an Andrew Fischer two-run blast in the top of the first inning – before the Crimson Tide responded with six unanswered runs in the second and third innings.
Alabama (22-1, 4-0 SEC) pounced for five runs in the bottom of the second inning to take the lead. A leadoff single followed by a hit batsman and an error loaded the bases before back-to-back walks and a bases-clearing double by star shortstop Justin Lebron resulted in a 5-3 advantage.
The Tide tacked on another run in the third on an RBI groundout to increase its lead to three after three innings of action.
Neither side was able to score in the middle three innings as both starting pitchers settled in after rocky starts.
Right fielder Bryce Fowler robbed Reese Chapman of a would-be solo home run in the sixth with an impressive leaping grab at the wall, a play that would prove to be pivotal later in the contest.
Liam Doyle suffered his first loss of the season after surrendering six runs (five earned) on six hits and four walks. The junior lefthander did well to battle through his early-game struggles to provide the Big Orange with six important innings to help preserve the bullpen and finished with nine strikeouts on the night.
Late Comeback Comes Up Just Short
Tennessee fought back to cut its deficit to one with a pair of runs in the seventh inning, recording four singles in the frame, including an RBI knock by Hunter Ensley before a sacrifice fly from Fischer to drive in his third run of the game.
The first two batters of the eighth inning reached base but a lineout double play and a strikeout ended the threat. The Vols also had the tying run aboard in the ninth after Jay Abernathy reached base with his third hit of the night, but he was caught stealing before a flyout to right field secured the sixth save of the year for Crimson Tide closer Carson Ozmer.
Loy Looks Good Again
Dylan Loy looked good once again in relief, tossing two scoreless innings to keep UT within striking distance. The sophomore lefty retired all six batters he faced after tossing 3.1 shutout frames in his previous outing against Florida last Sunday.
Up Next
The Vols will look to even the series on Friday night when the two teams meet for game two. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network+ and ESPN app.
Hoops Central: #6 [2] Tennessee vs. [7] UCLA
LEXINGTON, Ky. – After defeating 15th-seeded Wofford in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, the sixth-ranked, second-seeded Tennessee men’s basketball team prepares for a second round bout versus UCLA Saturday night at Rupp Arena. Tipoff is slated for 9:40 p.m. ET.
MORE INFO
GAMEDAY TIMES & BROADCAST INFO
- Opponent: UCLA Bruins
- Tipoff: Saturday, March 22 | 9:40 p.m. ET
- Venue: Rupp Arena
- Watch Online: TBS/truTV
- Online: Listen Live
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THE LATEST FROM THE VOLS
Mashack, Zeigler Selected as Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Finalists#6 [2] Vols Defeat [15] Wofford, 77-62, in NCAA Tournament OpenerGainey Named to ABIS Black Coaches WatchlistZeigler Collects USBWA Third Team All-America RecognitionLanier, Zeigler Voted NABC Third Team All-Americans
Fans can catch Saturday’s game between the Volunteers (28-7) and Bruins (22-10) on TBS/truTV. Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Jim Jackson (analyst) and Allie LaForce (reporter) will have the call.
Fans can also listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear Bob Kesling and Bert Bertelkamp describing the action.
In its most recent action, Tennessee began its program-record seventh straight NCAA Tournament berth Thursday night with a wire-to-wire victory, 77-62, over No. 15-seeded Wofford at Rupp Arena.
UT led for all but the first 13 seconds of the victory, securing a spot in the Round of 32 for the fourth straight season. Fifth-year guard Chaz Lanier dropped 29 points, the third-most by a Volunteer in NCAA Tournament play, while senior guard Zakai Zeigler had a 12-point, 12-assist double-double and broke the school record for career assists in the triumph
THE MATCHUP
• The only prior matchup came on 1/30/77, when #8 UCLA defeated #7 Tennessee, 103-89, in Atlanta.
• Tennessee owns a 35-44 all-time record against the current Big Ten membership. That includes a 66- 64 road win on 12/14/24 at Illinois on a Jordan Gainey buzzer-beater.
• Rick Barnes is 41-40 versus the current Big Ten members, including 8-8 at Tennessee with wins over seven different teams.
• Barnes was 3-1 against UCLA at Texas: a 63-61 road win on 12/2/07, a 68-64 home win on 12/4/08, a 69-59 road win on a 12/3/11 and a 65-63 home loss on 12/8/12.
• The lone prior meeting between Mick Cronin and Rick Barnes came on 3/16/12 in the NCAA Round of 64, a 65-59 Cincinnati win over Texas in Nashville, Tenn.
• UT beat Cronin-led Murray State, 64-53, on 11/30/05 in Nashville.
• UCLA, making its fourth NCAA Round of 32 appearance in the last five years, tied for fourth in its first season in the Big Ten.
• Junior forward Tyler Bilodeau, a Third Team All-Big Ten choice, paces the Bruins with 13.5 ppg.
NEWS & NOTES
• Jahmai Mashack is from Fontana, Calif., just 66 miles east of UCLA. This is his second time facing a home-state school while at UT. The Volunteers defeated USC, 73- 66 (OT), in the Battle 4 Atlantis semifinals on 11/24/22 in Paradise Island, Bahamas, en route to winning the title.
• In the victory over Wofford, Zakai Zeigler became, per Elias Sports Bureau, the sixth player in the last 50 years (1975-2025) with 12 points, 12 assists and no turnovers in NCAA Tournament play, joining Colorado’s McKinley Wright IV (2021), UCLA’s Earl Watson (2000), Bradley’s Jim Les (1986), Indiana’s Isiah Thomas (1981) and Missouri’s Larry Drew (1980).
• Chaz Lanier scored 29 points in his NCAA Tournament debut, good for the third-most ever by a Volunteer in the event and the most in a win. His six 3-pointers tied UT’s single-game record in NCAA Tournament action.
• Lanier (116) is now just two made 3-pointers shy of the Tennessee single-season record of 118, set in 2007-08 by Chris Lofton.
• The Vols are 29-27 all-time in NCAA Tournament play, including 10-6 under Rick Barnes, who has the most such wins in program history. More on Pages 10-11.
• Tennessee is looking to reach the NCAA Sweet 16 for the third straight year. It would be the first such instance in program history.
• With 834 wins, Rick Barnes is tied with John Calipari for ninth all- time (min. 10 years in DI) and for the most among active coaches.
• Zakai Zeigler’s 254 assists, a UT single-season best, are six shy of the SEC record (260 by Sean Tuohy 1979-80). His 726 career assists are a program record and the third-most in SEC history.
• Tennessee’s 199 wins over the last eight seasons (2017-25) rank co-sixth in DI, alongside Auburn, Liberty and Saint Mary’s. Only Gonzaga (239), Houston (239), Duke (216), Kansas (212) and Purdue (205) own more.
• The Vols, who reached 25 regular season victories for the third time, are in seeking their third 29-win campaign. They went 31-6 in 2018- 19 and 31-5 in 2007-08.
ALL-SEC ACCOLADES
• Zakai Zeigler and Chaz Lanier both won individual SEC awards from the league’s head coaches. Zeigler earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year plaudits for the second straight season, while Lanier claimed the inaugural SEC Newcomer of the Year honor.
• The league’s coaches tabbed Zeigler a First Team All-SEC competitor and Lanier a Second Team All- SEC designee. Zeigler is the 14th player in program history with at least three All-SEC nods that include two first-team choices. The others are Dale Ellis, Ernie Grunfeld, Allan Houston, Gilbert Huffman, Reggie Johnson, Bill Justus, Bernard King, Len Kosmalski, Chris Lofton, Dyron Nix, Paul “Lefty” Walther, Tony White and Ron Widby.
• Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack both made the cut for the coaches’ SEC All-Defensive Team. This is just the ninth season—10th instance—with multiple players from the same team receiving SEC All-Defensive Team honors, including the second in a row for UT.
• Meanwhile, in the Associated Press voting, Lanier collected First Team All-SEC distinction and Zeigler garnered Second Team All-SEC status.
A PAIR OF ALL-AMERICANS
• Chaz Lanier and Zakai Zeigler both earned The Sporting News Third Team All-America and NABC Third Team All-America plaudits. No other school put multiple players on either list.
• Zeigler was also tabbed an AP Third Team All- American and a USBWA Third Team All-American, while Lanier picked up AP All-America Honorable Mention recognition.
• Ernie Grunfeld and Bernard King form the only other same-season All-American tandem in Tennessee history. They each earned All-America plaudits in both 1975-76 and 1976-77.
• Lanier and Zeigler are also the lone teammate pair on the Wooden Award Top 15 National Ballot, from which the Wooden All-Americans and Wooden Award winner will be selected.
• The guards also form one of just three teammate tandems to make the 30-man Lute Olson Award finalist list.
RACKING UP RANKED VICTORIES
• TOP 25: In the past four years (2021-25), Tennessee’s 29 AP top-25 wins lead DI. Only Alabama (closest SEC team with 26), Connecticut (26), Kansas (26), Iowa State (25) and Purdue (23) are within seven.
• TOP 20: Tennessee is first in the nation with 25 AP top-20 triumphs over that span. Only Connecticut (24), Kansas (22) and Alabama (closest SEC team with 21) are even within five.
• TOP 15: The Volunteers lead DI with 22 AP top-15 decisions over those four years. Kansas (20) and Alabama (closest SEC team with 18) are the only schools even within five.
• TOP 10: Since 2021-22, Tennessee owns 12 AP top-10 wins, co-first nationally, alongside Connecticut (12), Iowa State (12) and Kansas (12). The only school within one is Kentucky (closest SEC team with 11). A full list of the 12 wins is on Page 12 (left sidebar).
• TOP FIVE: In that same four-year span, UT has seven AP top-five victories, the most in the country. Only four other schools have even five: Alabama (six), Arizona (six), Florida (five) and Iowa State (five).
• TOP THREE: The Vols have four AP top-three wins in those four years, matching Alabama (four), Arizona (four) and Florida (four) for the DI lead.
HIGH-CALIBER COMPANY
• Tennessee and Kansas are the only two schools to earn an AP top-five ranking in each of the last four seasons (2021-25). Only two others, Arizona and Purdue, entered 2024-25 with a three-year streak.
• The Volunteers are one of only four teams to reach the AP top six in each of the past five seasons, alongside Alabama, Houston and Kansas.
• UT is one of just five programs to reach the AP top six in at least six of the last seven seasons (2018- 25), alongside Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas and Kentucky. Those are also the only five schools to enter the AP top five in at least five different years in that stretch.
• The Vols are among only eight teams to reach the No. 1 spot in the AP Poll in at least two of the last seven seasons (2018-25), joining Auburn, Baylor, Duke, Gonzaga, Houston, Kansas and Purdue.
• Over that same seven-year stretch (2018-25), UT is also one of seven teams to claim an AP top-two position in at least three seasons, alongside Baylor, Connecticut, Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas and Purdue.
• UT is one of seven schools with an AP top-20 ranking in each of the last eight years (2017-25), alongside Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State and North Carolina. Just two others—Houston and Purdue—have even been AP top-25 each season.
• Additionally, over the last three years (2022-25), the Vols are one of just six teams to reach the AP top two in multiple seasons, joining Alabama, Connecticut, Duke, Kansas and Purdue.
QUITE THE CAMPAIGN
• Tennessee’s nine AP top-25 wins this season are its most ever, eclipsing the seven it had in both 2023- 24 and 2021-22. It has tallied at least seven in three of the last four years after never before doing so.
• UT has seven AP top-15 wins this year, passing 2021- 22 (six) for the most in school history. The Vols had five in 2022-23, giving them five-plus in three of the last four years after never before hitting that mark.
• This is the third time in program history, including the second in Rick Barnes‘ tenure, the Vols have logged four AP top-seven (or even AP top-10) victories in a single season, joining 2021-22 and 1976-77.
• Tennessee has 25-plus wins in a season for the ninth time, including the sixth under Rick Barnes (all in the last eight years) and the fourth in a row. It reached 25 victories in the regular season for the third time, joining 2018-19 (27-4) and 2007-08 (28-3).
• The Volunteers own 28-plus wins for the fourth time (second under Barnes). They went 31-6 in 2018-19, 28-9 in 2009-10 and 31-5 in 2007-08.
TOP-TIER TRIUMPHS
• Tennessee is 43-42 (.506) against AP top-25 foes under Rick Barnes, including 27-15 (.643) in its past 42 such games (since 1/22/22).
• The Volunteers are 37-34 (.521) versus AP top-20 teams in Barnes’ tenure, including 23-11 (.676) in their last 34 such affairs (since 1/22/22).
• UT is 29-27 (.518) against AP top-15 teams in the Barnes era, including 22-10 (.688) in its last 32 such games (since 12/22/21).
• The Vols own a 17-16 (.515) record versus AP top-10 foes under Barnes, including a 15-10 (.600) mark in their last 25 such contests (since 3/2/19) and a 12-7 (.632) tally in their last 19 (since 12/22/21).
• UT is 11-10 (.524) against AP top-five foes in Barnes’ tenure, including 7-5 (.583) in its last 12 such affairs (since 2/15/22). It is 9-3 (.750) versus AP top-five SEC teams, including 8-2 (.800) in its last 10 such outings (since 3/2/19).
STRONG IN THE STANDINGS
• Tennessee finished fourth in the SEC this season. It marked the program’s seventh top-four finish in the last eight years, including its fifth in a row.
• The Volunteers are the only team in the league to place top-four each of the past five seasons. Only three others have done it multiple times: Alabama (four), Auburn (three) and Kentucky (three).
• UT is also the only school to place top-four in seven of the last eight campaigns. Just three others have done it even four times: Auburn (six), Kentucky (six) and Alabama (four).
SENSATIONAL SIX
• Tennessee, Drake, Duke, Gonzaga, Houston and Saint Mary’s are the only schools with 25-plus wins each of the past four seasons (2021-22 to 2024-25).
• Only two others, Arizona and Purdue, entered 2024- 25 with a three-year streak and can still join that list.
TENNESSEE TORCHBEARER
• On 3/7/25, Chancellor Donde Plowman surpised Jahmai Mashack before a team film session by naming him a Torchbearer, which is the highest student honor conferred by the University of Tennessee. He was one of just 10 individuals to receive the prestigious distinction in 2025.
• Mashack is the fourth men’s basketball to win the award, joining Carl Langschmidt (1953), Byrl Logan (1939) and Charles Lucas (1931).
• Mashack and swimmer Griffin Hadley, a fellow 2025 winner, are the first male non-football student- athletes to receive the honor in 72 years, dating to Langschmidt. The only other male student-athletes to garner it during that time are football standouts Joshua Dobbs (2016) and Trey Smith (2020).
• The award is given for academic achievement and outstanding commitment to others as demonstrated by the student’s various activities and significant contributions to the university and the community.
#1/1 Vols Even Series with Gritty Win Over #10/12 Tide
Read Online | Box Score (PDF) | Download Postgame Media
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 1/1 Tennessee gutted out a hard-fought 10-7 victory on Friday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium to even its series with No. 10/12 Alabama.
For the second straight game, the Big Orange jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the first and two more in the second to chase Crimson Tide starter Riley Quick, who had allowed just three runs total this season entering the night, after just two innings.
The first three batters of the game all reached base and came around to score for the Vols in their three-run first inning. Andrew Fischer made it four straight batters to reach base with an RBI single before Reese Chapman drove in the final run of the frame with an RBI fielder’s choice.
A pair of RBI singles by Jay Abernathy and Hunter Ensley in the second inning increased the UT lead to 5-0 in the early going before Alabama answered with its first two runs of the game in the bottom of the third. Ensley led the Vols with his third straight multi-hit effort, finishing 3-for-4 with two runs, two RBIs and three stolen bases.
Tennessee (21-2, 4-1 SEC) never trailed in the game but was never able to build a real comfortable lead either, as the Tide continued to battle throughout the night.
After the two sides traded runs in the seventh, the Vols put together an impressive two-out rally in the eighth to score four runs and build their largest lead of the game at 10-4.
After a strikeout and a flyout to start the inning. nine-hole hitter Ariel Antigua got the rally started with an infield single before Curley blasted a two-run homer to left center for his seventh long ball of the year.
Following Curley’s homer, a pair of walks and a hit batter loaded the bases before Dalton Bargo came through with his second RBI hit of the game, lacing a single into center field to plate two more runs and extend the UT lead to six.
Despite the big inning by the Vols, the Crimson Tide (22-2, 4-1 SEC) continued to fight, answering with a run in the bottom of the eight before scoring two more in the bottom of the ninth and bringing the tying run to the plate with one out.
The duo of Andrew Behnke and Tanner Franklin was able to end the comeback bid with a pair of big outs to close out the game and secure Tennessee’s first road win of the year.
Bargo Big Off the Bench
Bargo finished the night 2-for-2 with three RBIs after entering the game as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning. His first knock was a two-out double to score Fischer from first base.
Two Out Hitting the Difference
Two-out hitting was pivotal for the Big Orange on Friday night, as they scored seven of their 10 runs – including all seven after the first inning – with two away. UT was 7-for-15 at the plate with two outs as a team and 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position, a stark difference from Thursday’s game one loss.
Notable Performances on the Mound
Marcus Phillips provided the Vols with another solid start, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits while striking out three over 4.2 innings of work.
Dylan Loy picked up his team-leading fourth win of the year after getting Tennessee out of a big jam in the bottom of the fifth inning, striking out Brennan Norton to strand the bases loaded, keeping the Vols lead intact.
Nate Snead allowed four runs but battled to provide UT with 3.1 important innings of relief before handing the ball off to Behnke and Franklin in the ninth. Franklin struck out Will Plattner with runners on first and second to end the game and earn his second save of the season.
Up Next
The Vols and Tide will meet at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday in a series-deciding rubber game that will be streamed on the SEC Network+ and ESPN app.
Lady Vol Three-Point Barrage Sinks USF, 101-66, In NCAA First Round
Read Online | Box Score (PDF) | Video Downloads | Photo Download | Watch Press Conference | Watch Highlights | Press Conference Transcript
COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 20 Tennessee opened its 43rd-straight NCAA appearance in dominant fashion on Friday night, hitting 16 three-pointers and smashing the SEC season record for treys during a 101-66 triumph in NCAA First Round play at the Schottenstein Center.
The Lady Vols (23-9), who are seeded fifth in the Birmingham 3 Regional, came in needing three buckets beyond the arc to surpass the previous mark of 314 by Arkansas in 2019-20 and took care of that with four alone in the first quarter. Jewel Spear’s deep ball with 5:13 to go was the record-breaker. UT’s 16 threes, meanwhile, was a program NCAA Tournament record, ranked second in all games in school history and tied for second most in NCAA Women’s Tournament history.
Redshirt sophomore guard Talaysia Cooper, one of three Lady Vols to hit three treys and one of eight UT players to connect from beyond the arc, led her team with 20 points, six rebounds and two steals. Samara Spencer hit a trio of three-pointers to finish with 15 points and five assists, while Zee Spearman matched Spencer’s total from long range and netted 13 points, and Spear added 11.
USF (23-11) was paced by Sammie Puisis, who knocked down five threes and finished with 28 points. L’or Mputu contributed 12, as her team was unable to keep pace with a deep Lady Vols squad that featured a 54-3 bench points advantage. The Bulls also suffered 24 turnovers and were outscored on points off turnovers by the Lady Vols, 36-10.
Spencer opened the game with a three-pointer just 10 seconds in, but South Florida responded with a 7-0 flurry to seize a 7-3 lead by the 8:18 mark. A 13-6 response by the Lady Vols, fueled by threes from Tess Darby and Spear, though, sent them into the media timeout with a 16-13 advantage. Back-to-back layups by Cooper and Alyssa Latham lifted UT to its biggest lead, 20-15, with 3:57 to go, but USF evened things at 20 by the 2:50 mark on a Puisis three contributing to her 15 first-quarter points. A Cooper three and a Kaniya Boyd layup helped close out the opening stanza with a 26-25 lead, as UT scored 12 of its points off 10 Bulls turnovers.
Tennessee exploded to a 15-4 start at the outset of the second period, with Spearman hitting a pair of threes during that spree and then a Spencer layup and Cooper trey extending the lead to 12, 41-29, with 7:08 remaining and forcing a Bulls timeout. The Lady Vols twice widened the gap to 13, getting a Cooper free throw to make it 42-29 with 6:37 to go and then a Spearman trey to increase it to 45-32 as the teams went to a media timeout with 4:49 to go. After allowing a Carla Brito tip-in, Tennessee scored the next 10 points to close out the half, with Cooper and Spencer threes running UT’s total of deep balls to 10 in the first half and sending their team into the locker room on top by 21, 55-34.
The Lady Vols opened the second half with a layup from Cooper and a jumper by Spencer to increase the margin to 25, 59-34, with 8:43 remaining in the third quarter. The teams exchanged baskets, with UT taking a 67-46 advantage into the 4:55 media break. A 7-0 USF run, including a bucket right before that timeout, enabled the Bulls to whittle the deficit to 16, 67-51, by the 4:43 mark, but a Spencer three and a Latham steal and layup pushed the margin back to 21, 72-51, forcing South Florida to ask for time with 2:24 left in the period. A three by Spear, a Cooper layup off an inbound pass and a Latham driving layup helped their team head into the final frame with a 79-56 lead.
The Big Orange began the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run and rode a 15-7 burst into the 4:11 media timeout, with a pair of threes by Darby pushing the lead to 94-63 by the 4:11 media timeout. As Tennessee closed out the game, a Sara Puckett three-pointer and a turnaround jumper in the paint rounded out the scoring and pushed the Big Orange past 100 points.
UP NEXT: Tennessee advances to the NCAA Second Round and will face No. 4 seed and No. 15/13-ranked Ohio State (26-6) on Sunday. Tip time and TV designation will be announced later. The contest also will be available on Lady Vol Network radio stations statewide and via audio stream on UTSports.com.
SIXTEEN TREYS AGAINST THE BULLS: The Lady Vols drained 16 three-pointers versus South Florida. It marked a school-best 17th time that UT has made 10 or more treys in a single game this season. The 16 tied for the second most in school history, the best by the Lady Vols in an NCAA Tournament game and tied for second best of any team in NCAA Tournament history.
SINKING THE LONG BALL INTO HISTORY: After hitting 16 deep balls vs. USF, Tennessee now has made 328 three-pointers this season, breaking the SEC record of 314 set by Arkansas during the 2019-20 campaign. Tennessee notched its highest three-point game against N.C. Central on Dec. 14, 2024, draining an NCAA, SEC and school-record 30 treys.
A RECORD-SETTING 100-POINT AFFAIR: The Lady Vols scored 100 points for the seventh time in 2024-25, tying the program record for most trips above the century mark in a season with the 1987-88 squad. That gives the program 94 all-time scoring efforts of 100 or more points through the USF contest.
SUCCESS IN THE BIG DANCE: Tennessee made its 43rd straight appearance in the NCAA First/Second Rounds, and it now owns a 65-6 record during games played in those rounds. The Lady Vols improved to 35-2 all-time in the NCAA First Round.
MISCUE MADNESS: The Lady Vols forced the Bulls to turn the ball over 24 times, making them the 20th team this season to commit at least 20 miscues. UT used that to build a 36-10 points-off-turnovers differential vs. USF.
17TH NEW STARTING LINEUP: Tennessee crafted its 17th different starting lineup of the season on Friday, with Jewel Spear, Samara Spencer, Tess Darby, Ruby Whitehorn and Jillian Hollingshead opening the contest against the Bulls. Ten different players have been in the starting lineup for the Big Orange this season.
THP: 63-Year-Old Injured, Facing Charges after Crashing Dump Truck into Vehicles in Jefferson Co.
Jefferson County, TN (WOKI) A dump truck driver is facing charges after blowing through a stop sign and crashing into a construction vehicle Friday morning on Highway 411 near the Chestnut Hill area of Jefferson County.
Officials with the Tennessee Highway Patrol say 63-year-old Christopher Moore was traveling southbound on 411 near State Highway 92 just after 7:00 a.m. when he failed to stop at a stop sign, crossed State Highway 92 and went through a road construction barrier into a construction zone, crashing into the front end of a road grader.
Moore was injured in the crash and taken by helicopter to the hospital.
He is facing charges including driving without a license and failure to obey a traffic control device.
Saturday ‘Real ID’ Appointments Now Available at Select Tennessee Driver Services Centers
The Department of Safety and Homeland Security announced today that it will begin offering additional Saturday appointments at 14 Driver Services Centers across the state for current Tennessee credential holders who want to get a REAL ID.
Saturday appointments will begin at 13 participating Driver Services Centers starting this Saturday, March 22. The Savannah Driver Services Center will offer Saturday appointments starting March 29. Saturday appointments will continue through the May 7th REAL ID implementation date.
Participating Middle Tennessee Service Centers
- Clarksville Driver Services Center – 220 West Dunbar Cave Road
- Columbia Driver Services Center – 1701 Hampshire Pike
- Cookeville Driver Services Center – 4600 South Jefferson Ave.
- Nashville/Hickory Hollow Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 5216 Hickory Hollow Pkwy.
Participating West Tennessee Service Centers
- Bartlett Express Services Center – 6340 Summer Ave.
- Jackson Driver Services Center – 100 Benchmark Circle
- Memphis/East Shelby Drive Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 3200 East Shelby Drive
- Oakland Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 160 Beau Tisdale Drive
- Savannah Driver Services Center – 1016 Pickwick St. *beginning March 29
Participating East Tennessee Service Centers
- Chattanooga/Bonny Oaks Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 6502 Bonny Oaks Drive
- Johnson City Driver Services Center – 4717 Lake Park Drive
- Knoxville/Strawberry Plains Driver Services Center – 7320 Region Lane
- Morristown County Driver Services Center – 1551 East Morris Boulevard, Suite 2
- Oak Ridge Driver Services Center – 475 Oak Ridge Turnpike
To take advantage of the new expanded Saturday appointments, applicants must already have a valid Tennessee driver license or identification card. REAL ID applicants who do not currently hold a valid Tennessee credential will be served during regular, Monday to Friday hours.
Saturday hours are available by appointment only. Applicants without a REAL ID appointment will not be served during the new Saturday hours. Schedule your REAL ID appointment now at tnrealid.gov.
REAL ID applicants must bring proof of U.S. citizenship or legal presence, proof of their Social Security Number, and two proofs of Tennessee residency. If your name has changed, you must also bring certified legal documents supporting the name change(s). This could include marriage licenses, divorce decrees, etc. All documents must be original or certified copies. Photocopies are not accepted.
The TDOSHS encourages all applicants to have their REAL ID required documents pre-approved online. Pre-approved documents can save you in-person processing time at the Driver Services Center and may eliminate repeat trips. A complete list of accepted documents and the pre-approval portal are available at tnrealid.gov.
For more information about Tennessee REAL ID, visit tnrealid.gov.
TN Attorney General Warns Against Home Improvement Fraud
Knoxville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) Experts say home improvement projects pick up in the spring, but so do scams.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti says if you’re considering hiring a contractor, you want to watch out for fraudulent contractors.
“Home improvement scams top the list of consumer complaints received by our Division of Consumer Affairs,” Skrmetti said. “If you’re planning to renovate this spring, make sure your contractor really is licensed and bonded—don’t take their word for it. Do your due diligence before you trust anyone with your money.”
The Board of Licensing Contractors got 884 complaints in 2024 and handed out more than $990,000 in civil penalties from nearly 300 of those complaints; they suggest doing your own research before hiring a contractor to include checking the status of a contractor’s or a businesses’ license through Verify.tn.gov.
The office warned of some red flags to watch out for: door-to-door sales, high-pressure sales tactics like short-time deals and demanding full payment up front.
To file a complaint about the license of a contractor or home improvement company, you can do so on the board’s website.
To file a complaint about a deceptive business practice, you can do so with the Division of Consumer Affairs.
Sheriff’s Office Charges Juvenile with Rape of Child in Blount County
Maryville, TN (WOKI) A teen in Blount County has been arrested and charged with raping a child.
Officials with the Blount County Sheriff’s Office say an investigation this week confirmed that a 4-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted by a 14-year-old boy while she was attending an in-home daycare in Blount County.
The teen has been charged with two counts of aggravated rape of a child by delinquent and is currently being held at the Blount County Juvenile facility pending a hearing in Blount County Juvenile Court.
According to the sheriff’s office, investigators are working a parallel investigation with DCS into the incident and are in the process of trying to identify and confirm other possible victims.
BCSO says the daycare owner has voluntarily closed her business and the investigation is ongoing at this time.
TDOT with a Construction Message Which will Affect Motorists in Knox and Cocke Counties
TRAFFIC ALERT
KNOX COUNTY
KNOXVILLE – Motorists traveling on I-40 West in Knox County should be aware of upcoming road construction activities that will have a temporary impact on traffic.
Beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 21, traffic on the exit ramp from I-40 West to Watt Road (Exit 369) will be shifted to the inside lane. In addition, traffic on the on-ramp from Watt Road (Exit 369) to I-40 West will be shifted to the inside shoulder.
These traffic shifts will each be complete by 6 a.m. on Monday, March 24.
This schedule is contingent on favorable weather conditions. Motorists are advised to expect delays and use extreme caution in this area as workers will be present.
As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and “Know Before You Go!” by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.
TRAFFIC ALERT
COCKE COUNTY
KNOXVILLE – Motorists traveling on U.S. 25E (State Route 32) in Cocke County should be aware of upcoming road construction activities that will have an impact on traffic.
Beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 21, U.S. 25E (State Route 32) will be closed between Lehigh Road and Hilltop Drive as crews will be installing a pipe culvert beneath the roadway. This closure will end on or before 6 a.m. on Monday, March 24.
Signage will be in place to direct motorists to the detour route.
This schedule is contingent on favorable weather conditions. Motorists are advised to expect delays and use extreme caution in this area as workers will be present.
As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and “Know Before You Go!” by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.
#6 [2] Vols Defeat [15] Wofford, 77-62, in NCAA Tournament Opener
- Box Score (PDF)
- Season Stats
- VIDEO: Tennessee Postgame
- VIDEO: Wofford Postgame
- Highlights
- Photo Gallery
Game Recap: Men’s Basketball | March 20, 2025
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The second-seeded University of Tennessee men’s basketball team began its program-record seventh straight NCAA Tournament berth Thursday night with a wire-to-wire victory, 77-62, over No. 15-seeded Wofford at Rupp Arena.
Sixth-ranked Tennessee (28-7, 12-6 SEC) led for all but the first 13 seconds of the victory, claiming a spot in the Round of 32 for the fourth straight season. Fifth-year guard Chaz Lanier dropped 29 points, the third-most by a Volunteer in NCAA Tournament play, while senior guard Zakai Zeigler had a 12-point, 12-assist double-double and broke the school record for career assists in the triumph.
The Volunteers, midway through the first half, scored 12 straight points—seven came from Lanier—in 2:58 to claim a 22-8 advantage with 11:02 on the timer. The stretch came during a span of six straight made field goals.
Wofford (19-16, 10-8 SOCON), after a 3:55 scoreless drought, responded with back-to-back 3-pointers to make it an eight-point game just 65 ticks later, but Tennessee thrice stretched the margin back to 13. The Terriers got the margin down to eight twice more before the Volunteers took a nine-point edge 36-27, into the break behind 14 points from Lanier and a 5-0 margin in points off turnovers, despite the teams posting four apiece.
Just 4:27 into the second stanza, the Volunteers got the lead back to 14, but Wofford countered with a three-point play and a 3-pointer in 89 seconds to make it 48-40 with 13:33 to go. Tennessee regained control and built the cushion to a then-game-best 16, 61-45, with 10:35 left during a span in which it hit six consecutive field-goal attempts.
The Terriers soon made three shots in a row on their end to get it down to nine, but junior forward Felix Okpara threw down dunks on the next to possession to give Tennessee a 13-point margin, 68-55, with 7:08 to play. The victors went up by 17 with 1:58 to go and then by a game-high 18 with 41 ticks on the timer, after which Wofford hit a 3-pointer to close the scoring and make it a 15-point final margin.
Lanier’s 29 points, the most ever by a Volunteer in an NCAA Tournament win, came on an 11-of-22 field-goal clip to match his career best in makes. He shot 6-of-13 from long range to tie the most single-game 3-point makes in the NCAA Tournament in program history. The Nashville, Tenn., native added five rebounds, two steals, one assist and one block in the win.
Zeigler scored his 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the floor, including a 2-of-5 mark from deep, and a perfect 2-of-2 showing at the line. The 12 assists, his fifth-most as a collegian and third-highest total of 2024-25, tied for the second-most by a Volunteer in NCAA Tournament competition. The Long Island, N.Y., native, who committed zero turnovers in 37 minutes and notched two assists, is the sixth player in the last 50 seasons (1975-2025), per Elias Sports Bureau, with 12 points, 12 assists and no turnovers in an NCAA Tournament affair.
Senior guard Jahmai Mashack added nine points, a game-best seven rebounds and two steals in the triumph.
Jackson Sivills, playing in his home state, paced the Terriers with 15 points. Fellow senior guard Corey Tripp had 14, but Tennessee held him to 6-of-17 field-goal shooting. Sophomore forward Jeremy Lorenz registered 12 points and junior guard Justin Bailey scored 10, with both shooting 4-of-6 from the field, including 2-of-3 beyond the arc.
Both sides made double-digit 3-pointers—Wofford went 11-of-26 (42.3 percent) and Tennessee shot 10-of-28 (35.7 percent)—but the Volunteers had a plus-10 margin in points at the line. They shot 15-of-22 (68.2 percent) compared to the Terriers’ 5-of-9 (55.6 percent) ledger.
Tennessee, which shot 26-of-54 (48.1 percent) overall, also did not allow a single point on the fast break or via turnover, ending the night with 3-0 and 14-0 tallies, respectively.
The Volunteers will take on either seventh-seeded UCLA in the Round of 32, with tip-off at Rupp Arena set for Saturday at 9:40 p.m., live on TBS and truTV.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS POSTGAME NOTES
• Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes upped his career win total to 834, remaining tied with John Calipari for the ninth-most all-time (min. 10 years in Division I) and for the most among active coaches.
• Barnes also increased his career NCAA Tournament record to 31-28, good for the sixth-most victories of any active Division I head coach and the second-most in the SEC.
• This is the 17th time in 29 trips to the NCAA Tournament that Barnes has led his team to the Round of 32, including the sixth in seven appearances at Tennessee.
• The Volunteers improved to 29-27 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, including 25-25 in regulation, 17-8 in the first round, 1-1 in Kentucky, 1-0 in Lexington and 1-0 against Wofford.
• Tennessee is now 9-4 as a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, as well as 5-0 against No. 15 seeds, 17-4 versus double-digit seeds and 24-11 against lower seeds.
• The Volunteers played an NCAA Tournament game at a fellow conference member’s arena for the second time ever, joining a 93-88 overtime setback against Syracuse in Baton Rouge, La., on March 13, 1977.
• Tennessee now has a four-year streak of reaching the Round of 32 for the second time ever, joining a five-year stretch from 1978-79 to 1982-83.
• The Volunteers improved to 9-0 all-time against Wofford—its fourth-most wins against any school without a loss—with this the first meeting at a neutral site.
• Thursday’s victory marked Tennessee’s 100th over the current SoCon membership, as it now owns a 100-17 record.
• Barnes is now 26-1 in his career against current SoCon members—that is good for his second-most wins without multiple losses against any league—including 11-1 at Tennessee.
• Tennessee has reached the 28-win mark for the fourth time ever, including the second in Barnes’ tenure, with the 2024-25 campaign joining 2018-19 (31-6), 2009-10 (28-9) and 2007-08 (31-5).
• The Volunteers did not make a field goal for the final 4:47 of the first half and the first 45 seconds of the second, a total span of 5:32.
• Wofford committed its seventh foul of the second half just 6:46 into the frame, putting Tennessee in the bonus with 13:14 to play, and
• Tennessee has conceded 35 or fewer first-half points in 28 of its 35 contests thus far, including 29 or fewer on 16 occasions and 23 or fewer eight times.
• The Volunteers have held a halftime advantage in 23 of their 35 outings this season, including a margin of seven-plus points 14 times, double digits 11 times, 12-plus 10 times, 14-plus eight times, 20-plus four times and 23-plus thrice.
• The Volunteers have held a lead of 15-plus points in 20 of their 35 contests this season, including leading by 18-plus in 18 of them, 20-plus in 15, 26-plus in 11 and 32-plus in five.
• Twenty of Tennessee’s 28 wins are by double digits, with 18 by 12-plus points, nine by at least 20, four by at least 35 and two by 40-plus.
• The 12 assists for Zeigler upped his career mark to 726, moving him past Johnny Darden (715 from 1975-79) for the Tennessee career record and the third-most in SEC history.
• Zeigler tied the record on the first possession of game, just 13 seconds into the contest, hitting Mashack for a 3-pointer and then broke it with 17:01 on the first-half timer on a 3-pointer by Lanier.
• Zeigler’s 12 assists also moved his season total to 254, passing Kentucky’s Tyler Ulis (246 in 2015-16) for the second-most in a campaign in SEC history, behind only Ole Miss’ Sean Tuohy (260 in 1979-80).
• Zeigler’s two steals moved his career total to 247, passing LSU’s Torris Bright (245 from 1999-2003) for sole possession of the No. 10 spot on the SEC all-time leaderboard.
• Zeigler made his 135th appearance as a Volunteer, tying Kyle Alexander (2015-19) for seventh place in program history.
• The 37 minutes for Zeigler upped his career tally to 3,923, eclipsing Brandon Wharton (3,904 from 1995-99) for eighth-most in Tennessee history.
• Zeigler now owns two of the five double-digit assist performances by a Volunteer in NCAA tournament play, as he logged 10 on March 21, 2024, against Saint Peter’s.
• The 12 assists matched Johnny Darden’s total on March 13, 1977, against Syracuse for the second-most by a Tennessee player in the NCAA Tournament, trailing just the 16 by Bert Bertelkamp on March 8, 1980, against Furman.
• In both of Zeigler’s 10-assist NCAA Tournament showings, he also had 10-plus points, giving him the only two points/assists double-doubles ever by a Volunteer in the event.
• Zeigler amassed double-digit assists for the 14th time in his career, including the sixth in 2024-25, with this his fifth time—third this year—posting 12-plus.
• Zeigler now owns 13 double-doubles in his career, with 12 of them—seven more than any other Volunteer—featuring points and assists.
• Over the last 50 seasons (1975-2025), Zeigler is, per the Elias Sports Bureau, the sixth player to compile at least 12 points, 12 assists and zero turnovers in an NCAA Tournament game, joining the following individuals: Colorado’s McKinley Wright IV (March 20, 2021, versus Georgetown), UCLA’s Earl Watson (March 18, 2000, versus Maryland), Bradley’s Jim Les (March 13, 1986, versus UTEP), Indiana’s Isiah Thomas (March 14, 1981, versus Maryland) and Missouri’s Larry Drew (March 8, 1980, versus Notre Dame).
• Across those 50 years, Zeigler is, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the 10th player with even 12 assists and zero turnovers, regardless of point total, in an NCAA Tournament affair.
• Zeigler is the only SEC player in the last 20 years (2005-25) with 12 assists, 10 points and no turnovers in a single game.
• In those same 20 seasons, Zeigler now has two outings with 12-plus assists and zero turnovers, while every other SEC player combined has three, with the list as follows: Kentucky’s Sahvir Wheeler (Nov. 12, 2021, versus Robert Morris), Tennessee’s Lamonte’ Turner (Nov. 12, 2019, versus Murray State), Kentucky’s Rajon Rondo (Feb. 22, 2006, versus Ole Miss).
• Zeigler is the only player in 2024-25 with 12 points, 12 assists and zero turnovers in a regulation game against a Division I opponent, with the last instance recorded one season ago by Gonzaga’s Ryan Nembhard on March 11, 2024, versus San Francisco in Paradise, Nev.
• Zeigler and Mashack, who already own the school’s four-year wins record, recorded their 107th victory at Tennessee, eclipsing four-and-a-half-year competitor Santiago Vescovi (106) for sole possession of fourth place on the program’s overall wins list.
• Lanier’s six 3-point makes pushed his season total to 116, moving him up to No. 10 on the SEC single-season leaderboard.
• The 116 made 3-pointers for Lanier this season also put him second on Tennessee’s single-season list, as he eclipsed Chris Lofton (114 in 2005-06).
• The 29 points by Lanier eclipsed the 28 by Reggie Johnson on March 6, 1980, against Furman for the most by a Volunteer in an NCAA Tournament win.
• The only Tennessee players to score greater than 29 points in an NCAA Tournament contest are Dalton Knecht (37 on March 31, 2024, versus Purdue) and Ernie Grunfeld (36 on March 13, 1976, versus VMI).
• Lanier registered the 29th 20-point performance of his career, including the 14th in his lone season as a Volunteer, as well as reached 25 points for the 14th time, including the sixth in 2024-25.
• The 29 points for Lanier marked his second-highest total of the season, trailing only the 30 he scored Feb. 22 at Texas A&M.
• The 11 made field goals for Lanier set a new season high—he made 10 on three occasions—and matched his career best, set twice during his North Florida tenure, as he went 11-of-18 both and Jan. 25, 2024, at Bellarmine and Feb. 8, 2024, against North Alabama.
• Lanier’s 11 field goals also tied for the most by a Volunteer this season, equaling the mark set Nov. 17, 2024, by Miličić against Austin Peay.
• Lanier connected on six 3-pointers for the seventh time in his career, including the fifth during his lone year at Tennessee.
• Okpara’s blocked shot upped his 2024-25 tally to 60, matching Doug Roth (60 in 1988-89) for sixth place on Tennessee’s single-season list and becoming the seventh Volunteer to reach 60 in a campaign.
• Sophomore forward Cade Phillips grabbed five rebounds in the victory, his 11th time reaching that mark as a Volunteer, all of which are during the 2024-25 campaign.
• Phillips amassed a 6-of-8 ledger from the free-throw line, setting career highs in both makes and attempts.
• Phillips’ prior high in made free throws with five against Miami on Dec. 10, 2024, in New York, while his previous best in attempts was six, both against the Hurricanes and Dec. 31 versus Norfolk State.
• Freshman guard Bishop Boswell’s layup with 4:47 on the first-half clock marked his third field-goal as a Volunteer, his first points since Dec. 3, 2024, versus Syracuse and his first field goal since Nov. 21, 2024, against Virginia in Nassau, Bahamas.
• The following Volunteers made their NCAA Tournament debuts: Boswell, Lanier, Okpara, fifth-year guard Darlinstone Dubar, freshman guard Campbell Duncan, senior forward Igor Miličić Jr., and freshman guard Gavin Paull.
Late-Inning Comeback Bid Falls Short in Series Opener at #10/12 Alabama
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 1/1 Tennessee came up just short in Thursday night’s series opener at No. 10/12 Alabama, falling 6-5 at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
It was a game of runs as the Volunteers (20-2, 3-1 SEC) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead with a pair of runs in the first and another in the second – highlighted by an Andrew Fischer two-run blast in the top of the first inning – before the Crimson Tide responded with six unanswered runs in the second and third innings.
Alabama (22-1, 4-0 SEC) pounced for five runs in the bottom of the second inning to take the lead. A leadoff single followed by a hit batsman and an error loaded the bases before back-to-back walks and a bases-clearing double by star shortstop Justin Lebron resulted in a 5-3 advantage.
The Tide tacked on another run in the third on an RBI groundout to increase its lead to three after three innings of action.
Neither side was able to score in the middle three innings as both starting pitchers settled in after rocky starts.
Right fielder Bryce Fowler robbed Reese Chapman of a would-be solo home run in the sixth with an impressive leaping grab at the wall, a play that would prove to be pivotal later in the contest.
Liam Doyle suffered his first loss of the season after surrendering six runs (five earned) on six hits and four walks. The junior lefthander did well to battle through his early-game struggles to provide the Big Orange with six important innings to help preserve the bullpen and finished with nine strikeouts on the night.
Late Comeback Comes Up Just Short
Tennessee fought back to cut its deficit to one with a pair of runs in the seventh inning, recording four singles in the frame, including an RBI knock by Hunter Ensley before a sacrifice fly from Fischer to drive in his third run of the game.
The first two batters of the eighth inning reached base but a lineout double play and a strikeout ended the threat. The Vols also had the tying run aboard in the ninth after Jay Abernathy reached base with his third hit of the night, but he was caught stealing before a flyout to right field secured the sixth save of the year for Crimson Tide closer Carson Ozmer.
Loy Looks Good Again
Dylan Loy looked good once again in relief, tossing two scoreless innings to keep UT within striking distance. The sophomore lefty retired all six batters he faced after tossing 3.1 shutout frames in his previous outing against Florida last Sunday.
Up Next
The Vols will look to even the series on Friday night when the two teams meet for game two. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network+ and ESPN app.
Hoops Central: #6 [2] Tennessee vs. [7] UCLA
LEXINGTON, Ky. – After defeating 15th-seeded Wofford in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, the sixth-ranked, second-seeded Tennessee men’s basketball team prepares for a second round bout versus UCLA Saturday night at Rupp Arena. Tipoff is slated for 9:40 p.m. ET.
MORE INFO
GAMEDAY TIMES & BROADCAST INFO
- Opponent: UCLA Bruins
- Tipoff: Saturday, March 22 | 9:40 p.m. ET
- Venue: Rupp Arena
- Watch Online: TBS/truTV
- Online: Listen Live
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THE LATEST FROM THE VOLS
Mashack, Zeigler Selected as Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Finalists#6 [2] Vols Defeat [15] Wofford, 77-62, in NCAA Tournament OpenerGainey Named to ABIS Black Coaches WatchlistZeigler Collects USBWA Third Team All-America RecognitionLanier, Zeigler Voted NABC Third Team All-Americans
Fans can catch Saturday’s game between the Volunteers (28-7) and Bruins (22-10) on TBS/truTV. Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Jim Jackson (analyst) and Allie LaForce (reporter) will have the call.
Fans can also listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear Bob Kesling and Bert Bertelkamp describing the action.
In its most recent action, Tennessee began its program-record seventh straight NCAA Tournament berth Thursday night with a wire-to-wire victory, 77-62, over No. 15-seeded Wofford at Rupp Arena.
UT led for all but the first 13 seconds of the victory, securing a spot in the Round of 32 for the fourth straight season. Fifth-year guard Chaz Lanier dropped 29 points, the third-most by a Volunteer in NCAA Tournament play, while senior guard Zakai Zeigler had a 12-point, 12-assist double-double and broke the school record for career assists in the triumph
THE MATCHUP
• The only prior matchup came on 1/30/77, when #8 UCLA defeated #7 Tennessee, 103-89, in Atlanta.
• Tennessee owns a 35-44 all-time record against the current Big Ten membership. That includes a 66- 64 road win on 12/14/24 at Illinois on a Jordan Gainey buzzer-beater.
• Rick Barnes is 41-40 versus the current Big Ten members, including 8-8 at Tennessee with wins over seven different teams.
• Barnes was 3-1 against UCLA at Texas: a 63-61 road win on 12/2/07, a 68-64 home win on 12/4/08, a 69-59 road win on a 12/3/11 and a 65-63 home loss on 12/8/12.
• The lone prior meeting between Mick Cronin and Rick Barnes came on 3/16/12 in the NCAA Round of 64, a 65-59 Cincinnati win over Texas in Nashville, Tenn.
• UT beat Cronin-led Murray State, 64-53, on 11/30/05 in Nashville.
• UCLA, making its fourth NCAA Round of 32 appearance in the last five years, tied for fourth in its first season in the Big Ten.
• Junior forward Tyler Bilodeau, a Third Team All-Big Ten choice, paces the Bruins with 13.5 ppg.
NEWS & NOTES
• Jahmai Mashack is from Fontana, Calif., just 66 miles east of UCLA. This is his second time facing a home-state school while at UT. The Volunteers defeated USC, 73- 66 (OT), in the Battle 4 Atlantis semifinals on 11/24/22 in Paradise Island, Bahamas, en route to winning the title.
• In the victory over Wofford, Zakai Zeigler became, per Elias Sports Bureau, the sixth player in the last 50 years (1975-2025) with 12 points, 12 assists and no turnovers in NCAA Tournament play, joining Colorado’s McKinley Wright IV (2021), UCLA’s Earl Watson (2000), Bradley’s Jim Les (1986), Indiana’s Isiah Thomas (1981) and Missouri’s Larry Drew (1980).
• Chaz Lanier scored 29 points in his NCAA Tournament debut, good for the third-most ever by a Volunteer in the event and the most in a win. His six 3-pointers tied UT’s single-game record in NCAA Tournament action.
• Lanier (116) is now just two made 3-pointers shy of the Tennessee single-season record of 118, set in 2007-08 by Chris Lofton.
• The Vols are 29-27 all-time in NCAA Tournament play, including 10-6 under Rick Barnes, who has the most such wins in program history. More on Pages 10-11.
• Tennessee is looking to reach the NCAA Sweet 16 for the third straight year. It would be the first such instance in program history.
• With 834 wins, Rick Barnes is tied with John Calipari for ninth all- time (min. 10 years in DI) and for the most among active coaches.
• Zakai Zeigler’s 254 assists, a UT single-season best, are six shy of the SEC record (260 by Sean Tuohy 1979-80). His 726 career assists are a program record and the third-most in SEC history.
• Tennessee’s 199 wins over the last eight seasons (2017-25) rank co-sixth in DI, alongside Auburn, Liberty and Saint Mary’s. Only Gonzaga (239), Houston (239), Duke (216), Kansas (212) and Purdue (205) own more.
• The Vols, who reached 25 regular season victories for the third time, are in seeking their third 29-win campaign. They went 31-6 in 2018- 19 and 31-5 in 2007-08.
ALL-SEC ACCOLADES
• Zakai Zeigler and Chaz Lanier both won individual SEC awards from the league’s head coaches. Zeigler earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year plaudits for the second straight season, while Lanier claimed the inaugural SEC Newcomer of the Year honor.
• The league’s coaches tabbed Zeigler a First Team All-SEC competitor and Lanier a Second Team All- SEC designee. Zeigler is the 14th player in program history with at least three All-SEC nods that include two first-team choices. The others are Dale Ellis, Ernie Grunfeld, Allan Houston, Gilbert Huffman, Reggie Johnson, Bill Justus, Bernard King, Len Kosmalski, Chris Lofton, Dyron Nix, Paul “Lefty” Walther, Tony White and Ron Widby.
• Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack both made the cut for the coaches’ SEC All-Defensive Team. This is just the ninth season—10th instance—with multiple players from the same team receiving SEC All-Defensive Team honors, including the second in a row for UT.
• Meanwhile, in the Associated Press voting, Lanier collected First Team All-SEC distinction and Zeigler garnered Second Team All-SEC status.
A PAIR OF ALL-AMERICANS
• Chaz Lanier and Zakai Zeigler both earned The Sporting News Third Team All-America and NABC Third Team All-America plaudits. No other school put multiple players on either list.
• Zeigler was also tabbed an AP Third Team All- American and a USBWA Third Team All-American, while Lanier picked up AP All-America Honorable Mention recognition.
• Ernie Grunfeld and Bernard King form the only other same-season All-American tandem in Tennessee history. They each earned All-America plaudits in both 1975-76 and 1976-77.
• Lanier and Zeigler are also the lone teammate pair on the Wooden Award Top 15 National Ballot, from which the Wooden All-Americans and Wooden Award winner will be selected.
• The guards also form one of just three teammate tandems to make the 30-man Lute Olson Award finalist list.
RACKING UP RANKED VICTORIES
• TOP 25: In the past four years (2021-25), Tennessee’s 29 AP top-25 wins lead DI. Only Alabama (closest SEC team with 26), Connecticut (26), Kansas (26), Iowa State (25) and Purdue (23) are within seven.
• TOP 20: Tennessee is first in the nation with 25 AP top-20 triumphs over that span. Only Connecticut (24), Kansas (22) and Alabama (closest SEC team with 21) are even within five.
• TOP 15: The Volunteers lead DI with 22 AP top-15 decisions over those four years. Kansas (20) and Alabama (closest SEC team with 18) are the only schools even within five.
• TOP 10: Since 2021-22, Tennessee owns 12 AP top-10 wins, co-first nationally, alongside Connecticut (12), Iowa State (12) and Kansas (12). The only school within one is Kentucky (closest SEC team with 11). A full list of the 12 wins is on Page 12 (left sidebar).
• TOP FIVE: In that same four-year span, UT has seven AP top-five victories, the most in the country. Only four other schools have even five: Alabama (six), Arizona (six), Florida (five) and Iowa State (five).
• TOP THREE: The Vols have four AP top-three wins in those four years, matching Alabama (four), Arizona (four) and Florida (four) for the DI lead.
HIGH-CALIBER COMPANY
• Tennessee and Kansas are the only two schools to earn an AP top-five ranking in each of the last four seasons (2021-25). Only two others, Arizona and Purdue, entered 2024-25 with a three-year streak.
• The Volunteers are one of only four teams to reach the AP top six in each of the past five seasons, alongside Alabama, Houston and Kansas.
• UT is one of just five programs to reach the AP top six in at least six of the last seven seasons (2018- 25), alongside Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas and Kentucky. Those are also the only five schools to enter the AP top five in at least five different years in that stretch.
• The Vols are among only eight teams to reach the No. 1 spot in the AP Poll in at least two of the last seven seasons (2018-25), joining Auburn, Baylor, Duke, Gonzaga, Houston, Kansas and Purdue.
• Over that same seven-year stretch (2018-25), UT is also one of seven teams to claim an AP top-two position in at least three seasons, alongside Baylor, Connecticut, Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas and Purdue.
• UT is one of seven schools with an AP top-20 ranking in each of the last eight years (2017-25), alongside Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State and North Carolina. Just two others—Houston and Purdue—have even been AP top-25 each season.
• Additionally, over the last three years (2022-25), the Vols are one of just six teams to reach the AP top two in multiple seasons, joining Alabama, Connecticut, Duke, Kansas and Purdue.
QUITE THE CAMPAIGN
• Tennessee’s nine AP top-25 wins this season are its most ever, eclipsing the seven it had in both 2023- 24 and 2021-22. It has tallied at least seven in three of the last four years after never before doing so.
• UT has seven AP top-15 wins this year, passing 2021- 22 (six) for the most in school history. The Vols had five in 2022-23, giving them five-plus in three of the last four years after never before hitting that mark.
• This is the third time in program history, including the second in Rick Barnes‘ tenure, the Vols have logged four AP top-seven (or even AP top-10) victories in a single season, joining 2021-22 and 1976-77.
• Tennessee has 25-plus wins in a season for the ninth time, including the sixth under Rick Barnes (all in the last eight years) and the fourth in a row. It reached 25 victories in the regular season for the third time, joining 2018-19 (27-4) and 2007-08 (28-3).
• The Volunteers own 28-plus wins for the fourth time (second under Barnes). They went 31-6 in 2018-19, 28-9 in 2009-10 and 31-5 in 2007-08.
TOP-TIER TRIUMPHS
• Tennessee is 43-42 (.506) against AP top-25 foes under Rick Barnes, including 27-15 (.643) in its past 42 such games (since 1/22/22).
• The Volunteers are 37-34 (.521) versus AP top-20 teams in Barnes’ tenure, including 23-11 (.676) in their last 34 such affairs (since 1/22/22).
• UT is 29-27 (.518) against AP top-15 teams in the Barnes era, including 22-10 (.688) in its last 32 such games (since 12/22/21).
• The Vols own a 17-16 (.515) record versus AP top-10 foes under Barnes, including a 15-10 (.600) mark in their last 25 such contests (since 3/2/19) and a 12-7 (.632) tally in their last 19 (since 12/22/21).
• UT is 11-10 (.524) against AP top-five foes in Barnes’ tenure, including 7-5 (.583) in its last 12 such affairs (since 2/15/22). It is 9-3 (.750) versus AP top-five SEC teams, including 8-2 (.800) in its last 10 such outings (since 3/2/19).
STRONG IN THE STANDINGS
• Tennessee finished fourth in the SEC this season. It marked the program’s seventh top-four finish in the last eight years, including its fifth in a row.
• The Volunteers are the only team in the league to place top-four each of the past five seasons. Only three others have done it multiple times: Alabama (four), Auburn (three) and Kentucky (three).
• UT is also the only school to place top-four in seven of the last eight campaigns. Just three others have done it even four times: Auburn (six), Kentucky (six) and Alabama (four).
SENSATIONAL SIX
• Tennessee, Drake, Duke, Gonzaga, Houston and Saint Mary’s are the only schools with 25-plus wins each of the past four seasons (2021-22 to 2024-25).
• Only two others, Arizona and Purdue, entered 2024- 25 with a three-year streak and can still join that list.
TENNESSEE TORCHBEARER
• On 3/7/25, Chancellor Donde Plowman surpised Jahmai Mashack before a team film session by naming him a Torchbearer, which is the highest student honor conferred by the University of Tennessee. He was one of just 10 individuals to receive the prestigious distinction in 2025.
• Mashack is the fourth men’s basketball to win the award, joining Carl Langschmidt (1953), Byrl Logan (1939) and Charles Lucas (1931).
• Mashack and swimmer Griffin Hadley, a fellow 2025 winner, are the first male non-football student- athletes to receive the honor in 72 years, dating to Langschmidt. The only other male student-athletes to garner it during that time are football standouts Joshua Dobbs (2016) and Trey Smith (2020).
• The award is given for academic achievement and outstanding commitment to others as demonstrated by the student’s various activities and significant contributions to the university and the community.
#1/1 Vols Even Series with Gritty Win Over #10/12 Tide
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 1/1 Tennessee gutted out a hard-fought 10-7 victory on Friday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium to even its series with No. 10/12 Alabama.
For the second straight game, the Big Orange jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the first and two more in the second to chase Crimson Tide starter Riley Quick, who had allowed just three runs total this season entering the night, after just two innings.
The first three batters of the game all reached base and came around to score for the Vols in their three-run first inning. Andrew Fischer made it four straight batters to reach base with an RBI single before Reese Chapman drove in the final run of the frame with an RBI fielder’s choice.
A pair of RBI singles by Jay Abernathy and Hunter Ensley in the second inning increased the UT lead to 5-0 in the early going before Alabama answered with its first two runs of the game in the bottom of the third. Ensley led the Vols with his third straight multi-hit effort, finishing 3-for-4 with two runs, two RBIs and three stolen bases.
Tennessee (21-2, 4-1 SEC) never trailed in the game but was never able to build a real comfortable lead either, as the Tide continued to battle throughout the night.
After the two sides traded runs in the seventh, the Vols put together an impressive two-out rally in the eighth to score four runs and build their largest lead of the game at 10-4.
After a strikeout and a flyout to start the inning. nine-hole hitter Ariel Antigua got the rally started with an infield single before Curley blasted a two-run homer to left center for his seventh long ball of the year.
Following Curley’s homer, a pair of walks and a hit batter loaded the bases before Dalton Bargo came through with his second RBI hit of the game, lacing a single into center field to plate two more runs and extend the UT lead to six.
Despite the big inning by the Vols, the Crimson Tide (22-2, 4-1 SEC) continued to fight, answering with a run in the bottom of the eight before scoring two more in the bottom of the ninth and bringing the tying run to the plate with one out.
The duo of Andrew Behnke and Tanner Franklin was able to end the comeback bid with a pair of big outs to close out the game and secure Tennessee’s first road win of the year.
Bargo Big Off the Bench
Bargo finished the night 2-for-2 with three RBIs after entering the game as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning. His first knock was a two-out double to score Fischer from first base.
Two Out Hitting the Difference
Two-out hitting was pivotal for the Big Orange on Friday night, as they scored seven of their 10 runs – including all seven after the first inning – with two away. UT was 7-for-15 at the plate with two outs as a team and 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position, a stark difference from Thursday’s game one loss.
Notable Performances on the Mound
Marcus Phillips provided the Vols with another solid start, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits while striking out three over 4.2 innings of work.
Dylan Loy picked up his team-leading fourth win of the year after getting Tennessee out of a big jam in the bottom of the fifth inning, striking out Brennan Norton to strand the bases loaded, keeping the Vols lead intact.
Nate Snead allowed four runs but battled to provide UT with 3.1 important innings of relief before handing the ball off to Behnke and Franklin in the ninth. Franklin struck out Will Plattner with runners on first and second to end the game and earn his second save of the season.
Up Next
The Vols and Tide will meet at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday in a series-deciding rubber game that will be streamed on the SEC Network+ and ESPN app.
Lady Vol Three-Point Barrage Sinks USF, 101-66, In NCAA First Round
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 20 Tennessee opened its 43rd-straight NCAA appearance in dominant fashion on Friday night, hitting 16 three-pointers and smashing the SEC season record for treys during a 101-66 triumph in NCAA First Round play at the Schottenstein Center.
The Lady Vols (23-9), who are seeded fifth in the Birmingham 3 Regional, came in needing three buckets beyond the arc to surpass the previous mark of 314 by Arkansas in 2019-20 and took care of that with four alone in the first quarter. Jewel Spear’s deep ball with 5:13 to go was the record-breaker. UT’s 16 threes, meanwhile, was a program NCAA Tournament record, ranked second in all games in school history and tied for second most in NCAA Women’s Tournament history.
Redshirt sophomore guard Talaysia Cooper, one of three Lady Vols to hit three treys and one of eight UT players to connect from beyond the arc, led her team with 20 points, six rebounds and two steals. Samara Spencer hit a trio of three-pointers to finish with 15 points and five assists, while Zee Spearman matched Spencer’s total from long range and netted 13 points, and Spear added 11.
USF (23-11) was paced by Sammie Puisis, who knocked down five threes and finished with 28 points. L’or Mputu contributed 12, as her team was unable to keep pace with a deep Lady Vols squad that featured a 54-3 bench points advantage. The Bulls also suffered 24 turnovers and were outscored on points off turnovers by the Lady Vols, 36-10.
Spencer opened the game with a three-pointer just 10 seconds in, but South Florida responded with a 7-0 flurry to seize a 7-3 lead by the 8:18 mark. A 13-6 response by the Lady Vols, fueled by threes from Tess Darby and Spear, though, sent them into the media timeout with a 16-13 advantage. Back-to-back layups by Cooper and Alyssa Latham lifted UT to its biggest lead, 20-15, with 3:57 to go, but USF evened things at 20 by the 2:50 mark on a Puisis three contributing to her 15 first-quarter points. A Cooper three and a Kaniya Boyd layup helped close out the opening stanza with a 26-25 lead, as UT scored 12 of its points off 10 Bulls turnovers.
Tennessee exploded to a 15-4 start at the outset of the second period, with Spearman hitting a pair of threes during that spree and then a Spencer layup and Cooper trey extending the lead to 12, 41-29, with 7:08 remaining and forcing a Bulls timeout. The Lady Vols twice widened the gap to 13, getting a Cooper free throw to make it 42-29 with 6:37 to go and then a Spearman trey to increase it to 45-32 as the teams went to a media timeout with 4:49 to go. After allowing a Carla Brito tip-in, Tennessee scored the next 10 points to close out the half, with Cooper and Spencer threes running UT’s total of deep balls to 10 in the first half and sending their team into the locker room on top by 21, 55-34.
The Lady Vols opened the second half with a layup from Cooper and a jumper by Spencer to increase the margin to 25, 59-34, with 8:43 remaining in the third quarter. The teams exchanged baskets, with UT taking a 67-46 advantage into the 4:55 media break. A 7-0 USF run, including a bucket right before that timeout, enabled the Bulls to whittle the deficit to 16, 67-51, by the 4:43 mark, but a Spencer three and a Latham steal and layup pushed the margin back to 21, 72-51, forcing South Florida to ask for time with 2:24 left in the period. A three by Spear, a Cooper layup off an inbound pass and a Latham driving layup helped their team head into the final frame with a 79-56 lead.
The Big Orange began the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run and rode a 15-7 burst into the 4:11 media timeout, with a pair of threes by Darby pushing the lead to 94-63 by the 4:11 media timeout. As Tennessee closed out the game, a Sara Puckett three-pointer and a turnaround jumper in the paint rounded out the scoring and pushed the Big Orange past 100 points.
UP NEXT: Tennessee advances to the NCAA Second Round and will face No. 4 seed and No. 15/13-ranked Ohio State (26-6) on Sunday. Tip time and TV designation will be announced later. The contest also will be available on Lady Vol Network radio stations statewide and via audio stream on UTSports.com.
SIXTEEN TREYS AGAINST THE BULLS: The Lady Vols drained 16 three-pointers versus South Florida. It marked a school-best 17th time that UT has made 10 or more treys in a single game this season. The 16 tied for the second most in school history, the best by the Lady Vols in an NCAA Tournament game and tied for second best of any team in NCAA Tournament history.
SINKING THE LONG BALL INTO HISTORY: After hitting 16 deep balls vs. USF, Tennessee now has made 328 three-pointers this season, breaking the SEC record of 314 set by Arkansas during the 2019-20 campaign. Tennessee notched its highest three-point game against N.C. Central on Dec. 14, 2024, draining an NCAA, SEC and school-record 30 treys.
A RECORD-SETTING 100-POINT AFFAIR: The Lady Vols scored 100 points for the seventh time in 2024-25, tying the program record for most trips above the century mark in a season with the 1987-88 squad. That gives the program 94 all-time scoring efforts of 100 or more points through the USF contest.
SUCCESS IN THE BIG DANCE: Tennessee made its 43rd straight appearance in the NCAA First/Second Rounds, and it now owns a 65-6 record during games played in those rounds. The Lady Vols improved to 35-2 all-time in the NCAA First Round.
MISCUE MADNESS: The Lady Vols forced the Bulls to turn the ball over 24 times, making them the 20th team this season to commit at least 20 miscues. UT used that to build a 36-10 points-off-turnovers differential vs. USF.
17TH NEW STARTING LINEUP: Tennessee crafted its 17th different starting lineup of the season on Friday, with Jewel Spear, Samara Spencer, Tess Darby, Ruby Whitehorn and Jillian Hollingshead opening the contest against the Bulls. Ten different players have been in the starting lineup for the Big Orange this season.
THP: 63-Year-Old Injured, Facing Charges after Crashing Dump Truck into Vehicles in Jefferson Co.
Jefferson County, TN (WOKI) A dump truck driver is facing charges after blowing through a stop sign and crashing into a construction vehicle Friday morning on Highway 411 near the Chestnut Hill area of Jefferson County.
Officials with the Tennessee Highway Patrol say 63-year-old Christopher Moore was traveling southbound on 411 near State Highway 92 just after 7:00 a.m. when he failed to stop at a stop sign, crossed State Highway 92 and went through a road construction barrier into a construction zone, crashing into the front end of a road grader.
Moore was injured in the crash and taken by helicopter to the hospital.
He is facing charges including driving without a license and failure to obey a traffic control device.
Saturday ‘Real ID’ Appointments Now Available at Select Tennessee Driver Services Centers
The Department of Safety and Homeland Security announced today that it will begin offering additional Saturday appointments at 14 Driver Services Centers across the state for current Tennessee credential holders who want to get a REAL ID.
Saturday appointments will begin at 13 participating Driver Services Centers starting this Saturday, March 22. The Savannah Driver Services Center will offer Saturday appointments starting March 29. Saturday appointments will continue through the May 7th REAL ID implementation date.
Participating Middle Tennessee Service Centers
- Clarksville Driver Services Center – 220 West Dunbar Cave Road
- Columbia Driver Services Center – 1701 Hampshire Pike
- Cookeville Driver Services Center – 4600 South Jefferson Ave.
- Nashville/Hickory Hollow Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 5216 Hickory Hollow Pkwy.
Participating West Tennessee Service Centers
- Bartlett Express Services Center – 6340 Summer Ave.
- Jackson Driver Services Center – 100 Benchmark Circle
- Memphis/East Shelby Drive Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 3200 East Shelby Drive
- Oakland Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 160 Beau Tisdale Drive
- Savannah Driver Services Center – 1016 Pickwick St. *beginning March 29
Participating East Tennessee Service Centers
- Chattanooga/Bonny Oaks Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 6502 Bonny Oaks Drive
- Johnson City Driver Services Center – 4717 Lake Park Drive
- Knoxville/Strawberry Plains Driver Services Center – 7320 Region Lane
- Morristown County Driver Services Center – 1551 East Morris Boulevard, Suite 2
- Oak Ridge Driver Services Center – 475 Oak Ridge Turnpike
To take advantage of the new expanded Saturday appointments, applicants must already have a valid Tennessee driver license or identification card. REAL ID applicants who do not currently hold a valid Tennessee credential will be served during regular, Monday to Friday hours.
Saturday hours are available by appointment only. Applicants without a REAL ID appointment will not be served during the new Saturday hours. Schedule your REAL ID appointment now at tnrealid.gov.
REAL ID applicants must bring proof of U.S. citizenship or legal presence, proof of their Social Security Number, and two proofs of Tennessee residency. If your name has changed, you must also bring certified legal documents supporting the name change(s). This could include marriage licenses, divorce decrees, etc. All documents must be original or certified copies. Photocopies are not accepted.
The TDOSHS encourages all applicants to have their REAL ID required documents pre-approved online. Pre-approved documents can save you in-person processing time at the Driver Services Center and may eliminate repeat trips. A complete list of accepted documents and the pre-approval portal are available at tnrealid.gov.
For more information about Tennessee REAL ID, visit tnrealid.gov.
TN Attorney General Warns Against Home Improvement Fraud
Knoxville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) Experts say home improvement projects pick up in the spring, but so do scams.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti says if you’re considering hiring a contractor, you want to watch out for fraudulent contractors.
“Home improvement scams top the list of consumer complaints received by our Division of Consumer Affairs,” Skrmetti said. “If you’re planning to renovate this spring, make sure your contractor really is licensed and bonded—don’t take their word for it. Do your due diligence before you trust anyone with your money.”
The Board of Licensing Contractors got 884 complaints in 2024 and handed out more than $990,000 in civil penalties from nearly 300 of those complaints; they suggest doing your own research before hiring a contractor to include checking the status of a contractor’s or a businesses’ license through Verify.tn.gov.
The office warned of some red flags to watch out for: door-to-door sales, high-pressure sales tactics like short-time deals and demanding full payment up front.
To file a complaint about the license of a contractor or home improvement company, you can do so on the board’s website.
To file a complaint about a deceptive business practice, you can do so with the Division of Consumer Affairs.
Sheriff’s Office Charges Juvenile with Rape of Child in Blount County
Maryville, TN (WOKI) A teen in Blount County has been arrested and charged with raping a child.
Officials with the Blount County Sheriff’s Office say an investigation this week confirmed that a 4-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted by a 14-year-old boy while she was attending an in-home daycare in Blount County.
The teen has been charged with two counts of aggravated rape of a child by delinquent and is currently being held at the Blount County Juvenile facility pending a hearing in Blount County Juvenile Court.
According to the sheriff’s office, investigators are working a parallel investigation with DCS into the incident and are in the process of trying to identify and confirm other possible victims.
BCSO says the daycare owner has voluntarily closed her business and the investigation is ongoing at this time.
TDOT with a Construction Message Which will Affect Motorists in Knox and Cocke Counties
TRAFFIC ALERT
KNOX COUNTY
KNOXVILLE – Motorists traveling on I-40 West in Knox County should be aware of upcoming road construction activities that will have a temporary impact on traffic.
Beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 21, traffic on the exit ramp from I-40 West to Watt Road (Exit 369) will be shifted to the inside lane. In addition, traffic on the on-ramp from Watt Road (Exit 369) to I-40 West will be shifted to the inside shoulder.
These traffic shifts will each be complete by 6 a.m. on Monday, March 24.
This schedule is contingent on favorable weather conditions. Motorists are advised to expect delays and use extreme caution in this area as workers will be present.
As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and “Know Before You Go!” by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.
TRAFFIC ALERT
COCKE COUNTY
KNOXVILLE – Motorists traveling on U.S. 25E (State Route 32) in Cocke County should be aware of upcoming road construction activities that will have an impact on traffic.
Beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 21, U.S. 25E (State Route 32) will be closed between Lehigh Road and Hilltop Drive as crews will be installing a pipe culvert beneath the roadway. This closure will end on or before 6 a.m. on Monday, March 24.
Signage will be in place to direct motorists to the detour route.
This schedule is contingent on favorable weather conditions. Motorists are advised to expect delays and use extreme caution in this area as workers will be present.
As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and “Know Before You Go!” by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.
#6 [2] Vols Defeat [15] Wofford, 77-62, in NCAA Tournament Opener
- Box Score (PDF)
- Season Stats
- VIDEO: Tennessee Postgame
- VIDEO: Wofford Postgame
- Highlights
- Photo Gallery
Game Recap: Men’s Basketball | March 20, 2025
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The second-seeded University of Tennessee men’s basketball team began its program-record seventh straight NCAA Tournament berth Thursday night with a wire-to-wire victory, 77-62, over No. 15-seeded Wofford at Rupp Arena.
Sixth-ranked Tennessee (28-7, 12-6 SEC) led for all but the first 13 seconds of the victory, claiming a spot in the Round of 32 for the fourth straight season. Fifth-year guard Chaz Lanier dropped 29 points, the third-most by a Volunteer in NCAA Tournament play, while senior guard Zakai Zeigler had a 12-point, 12-assist double-double and broke the school record for career assists in the triumph.
The Volunteers, midway through the first half, scored 12 straight points—seven came from Lanier—in 2:58 to claim a 22-8 advantage with 11:02 on the timer. The stretch came during a span of six straight made field goals.
Wofford (19-16, 10-8 SOCON), after a 3:55 scoreless drought, responded with back-to-back 3-pointers to make it an eight-point game just 65 ticks later, but Tennessee thrice stretched the margin back to 13. The Terriers got the margin down to eight twice more before the Volunteers took a nine-point edge 36-27, into the break behind 14 points from Lanier and a 5-0 margin in points off turnovers, despite the teams posting four apiece.
Just 4:27 into the second stanza, the Volunteers got the lead back to 14, but Wofford countered with a three-point play and a 3-pointer in 89 seconds to make it 48-40 with 13:33 to go. Tennessee regained control and built the cushion to a then-game-best 16, 61-45, with 10:35 left during a span in which it hit six consecutive field-goal attempts.
The Terriers soon made three shots in a row on their end to get it down to nine, but junior forward Felix Okpara threw down dunks on the next to possession to give Tennessee a 13-point margin, 68-55, with 7:08 to play. The victors went up by 17 with 1:58 to go and then by a game-high 18 with 41 ticks on the timer, after which Wofford hit a 3-pointer to close the scoring and make it a 15-point final margin.
Lanier’s 29 points, the most ever by a Volunteer in an NCAA Tournament win, came on an 11-of-22 field-goal clip to match his career best in makes. He shot 6-of-13 from long range to tie the most single-game 3-point makes in the NCAA Tournament in program history. The Nashville, Tenn., native added five rebounds, two steals, one assist and one block in the win.
Zeigler scored his 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the floor, including a 2-of-5 mark from deep, and a perfect 2-of-2 showing at the line. The 12 assists, his fifth-most as a collegian and third-highest total of 2024-25, tied for the second-most by a Volunteer in NCAA Tournament competition. The Long Island, N.Y., native, who committed zero turnovers in 37 minutes and notched two assists, is the sixth player in the last 50 seasons (1975-2025), per Elias Sports Bureau, with 12 points, 12 assists and no turnovers in an NCAA Tournament affair.
Senior guard Jahmai Mashack added nine points, a game-best seven rebounds and two steals in the triumph.
Jackson Sivills, playing in his home state, paced the Terriers with 15 points. Fellow senior guard Corey Tripp had 14, but Tennessee held him to 6-of-17 field-goal shooting. Sophomore forward Jeremy Lorenz registered 12 points and junior guard Justin Bailey scored 10, with both shooting 4-of-6 from the field, including 2-of-3 beyond the arc.
Both sides made double-digit 3-pointers—Wofford went 11-of-26 (42.3 percent) and Tennessee shot 10-of-28 (35.7 percent)—but the Volunteers had a plus-10 margin in points at the line. They shot 15-of-22 (68.2 percent) compared to the Terriers’ 5-of-9 (55.6 percent) ledger.
Tennessee, which shot 26-of-54 (48.1 percent) overall, also did not allow a single point on the fast break or via turnover, ending the night with 3-0 and 14-0 tallies, respectively.
The Volunteers will take on either seventh-seeded UCLA in the Round of 32, with tip-off at Rupp Arena set for Saturday at 9:40 p.m., live on TBS and truTV.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS POSTGAME NOTES
• Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes upped his career win total to 834, remaining tied with John Calipari for the ninth-most all-time (min. 10 years in Division I) and for the most among active coaches.
• Barnes also increased his career NCAA Tournament record to 31-28, good for the sixth-most victories of any active Division I head coach and the second-most in the SEC.
• This is the 17th time in 29 trips to the NCAA Tournament that Barnes has led his team to the Round of 32, including the sixth in seven appearances at Tennessee.
• The Volunteers improved to 29-27 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, including 25-25 in regulation, 17-8 in the first round, 1-1 in Kentucky, 1-0 in Lexington and 1-0 against Wofford.
• Tennessee is now 9-4 as a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, as well as 5-0 against No. 15 seeds, 17-4 versus double-digit seeds and 24-11 against lower seeds.
• The Volunteers played an NCAA Tournament game at a fellow conference member’s arena for the second time ever, joining a 93-88 overtime setback against Syracuse in Baton Rouge, La., on March 13, 1977.
• Tennessee now has a four-year streak of reaching the Round of 32 for the second time ever, joining a five-year stretch from 1978-79 to 1982-83.
• The Volunteers improved to 9-0 all-time against Wofford—its fourth-most wins against any school without a loss—with this the first meeting at a neutral site.
• Thursday’s victory marked Tennessee’s 100th over the current SoCon membership, as it now owns a 100-17 record.
• Barnes is now 26-1 in his career against current SoCon members—that is good for his second-most wins without multiple losses against any league—including 11-1 at Tennessee.
• Tennessee has reached the 28-win mark for the fourth time ever, including the second in Barnes’ tenure, with the 2024-25 campaign joining 2018-19 (31-6), 2009-10 (28-9) and 2007-08 (31-5).
• The Volunteers did not make a field goal for the final 4:47 of the first half and the first 45 seconds of the second, a total span of 5:32.
• Wofford committed its seventh foul of the second half just 6:46 into the frame, putting Tennessee in the bonus with 13:14 to play, and
• Tennessee has conceded 35 or fewer first-half points in 28 of its 35 contests thus far, including 29 or fewer on 16 occasions and 23 or fewer eight times.
• The Volunteers have held a halftime advantage in 23 of their 35 outings this season, including a margin of seven-plus points 14 times, double digits 11 times, 12-plus 10 times, 14-plus eight times, 20-plus four times and 23-plus thrice.
• The Volunteers have held a lead of 15-plus points in 20 of their 35 contests this season, including leading by 18-plus in 18 of them, 20-plus in 15, 26-plus in 11 and 32-plus in five.
• Twenty of Tennessee’s 28 wins are by double digits, with 18 by 12-plus points, nine by at least 20, four by at least 35 and two by 40-plus.
• The 12 assists for Zeigler upped his career mark to 726, moving him past Johnny Darden (715 from 1975-79) for the Tennessee career record and the third-most in SEC history.
• Zeigler tied the record on the first possession of game, just 13 seconds into the contest, hitting Mashack for a 3-pointer and then broke it with 17:01 on the first-half timer on a 3-pointer by Lanier.
• Zeigler’s 12 assists also moved his season total to 254, passing Kentucky’s Tyler Ulis (246 in 2015-16) for the second-most in a campaign in SEC history, behind only Ole Miss’ Sean Tuohy (260 in 1979-80).
• Zeigler’s two steals moved his career total to 247, passing LSU’s Torris Bright (245 from 1999-2003) for sole possession of the No. 10 spot on the SEC all-time leaderboard.
• Zeigler made his 135th appearance as a Volunteer, tying Kyle Alexander (2015-19) for seventh place in program history.
• The 37 minutes for Zeigler upped his career tally to 3,923, eclipsing Brandon Wharton (3,904 from 1995-99) for eighth-most in Tennessee history.
• Zeigler now owns two of the five double-digit assist performances by a Volunteer in NCAA tournament play, as he logged 10 on March 21, 2024, against Saint Peter’s.
• The 12 assists matched Johnny Darden’s total on March 13, 1977, against Syracuse for the second-most by a Tennessee player in the NCAA Tournament, trailing just the 16 by Bert Bertelkamp on March 8, 1980, against Furman.
• In both of Zeigler’s 10-assist NCAA Tournament showings, he also had 10-plus points, giving him the only two points/assists double-doubles ever by a Volunteer in the event.
• Zeigler amassed double-digit assists for the 14th time in his career, including the sixth in 2024-25, with this his fifth time—third this year—posting 12-plus.
• Zeigler now owns 13 double-doubles in his career, with 12 of them—seven more than any other Volunteer—featuring points and assists.
• Over the last 50 seasons (1975-2025), Zeigler is, per the Elias Sports Bureau, the sixth player to compile at least 12 points, 12 assists and zero turnovers in an NCAA Tournament game, joining the following individuals: Colorado’s McKinley Wright IV (March 20, 2021, versus Georgetown), UCLA’s Earl Watson (March 18, 2000, versus Maryland), Bradley’s Jim Les (March 13, 1986, versus UTEP), Indiana’s Isiah Thomas (March 14, 1981, versus Maryland) and Missouri’s Larry Drew (March 8, 1980, versus Notre Dame).
• Across those 50 years, Zeigler is, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the 10th player with even 12 assists and zero turnovers, regardless of point total, in an NCAA Tournament affair.
• Zeigler is the only SEC player in the last 20 years (2005-25) with 12 assists, 10 points and no turnovers in a single game.
• In those same 20 seasons, Zeigler now has two outings with 12-plus assists and zero turnovers, while every other SEC player combined has three, with the list as follows: Kentucky’s Sahvir Wheeler (Nov. 12, 2021, versus Robert Morris), Tennessee’s Lamonte’ Turner (Nov. 12, 2019, versus Murray State), Kentucky’s Rajon Rondo (Feb. 22, 2006, versus Ole Miss).
• Zeigler is the only player in 2024-25 with 12 points, 12 assists and zero turnovers in a regulation game against a Division I opponent, with the last instance recorded one season ago by Gonzaga’s Ryan Nembhard on March 11, 2024, versus San Francisco in Paradise, Nev.
• Zeigler and Mashack, who already own the school’s four-year wins record, recorded their 107th victory at Tennessee, eclipsing four-and-a-half-year competitor Santiago Vescovi (106) for sole possession of fourth place on the program’s overall wins list.
• Lanier’s six 3-point makes pushed his season total to 116, moving him up to No. 10 on the SEC single-season leaderboard.
• The 116 made 3-pointers for Lanier this season also put him second on Tennessee’s single-season list, as he eclipsed Chris Lofton (114 in 2005-06).
• The 29 points by Lanier eclipsed the 28 by Reggie Johnson on March 6, 1980, against Furman for the most by a Volunteer in an NCAA Tournament win.
• The only Tennessee players to score greater than 29 points in an NCAA Tournament contest are Dalton Knecht (37 on March 31, 2024, versus Purdue) and Ernie Grunfeld (36 on March 13, 1976, versus VMI).
• Lanier registered the 29th 20-point performance of his career, including the 14th in his lone season as a Volunteer, as well as reached 25 points for the 14th time, including the sixth in 2024-25.
• The 29 points for Lanier marked his second-highest total of the season, trailing only the 30 he scored Feb. 22 at Texas A&M.
• The 11 made field goals for Lanier set a new season high—he made 10 on three occasions—and matched his career best, set twice during his North Florida tenure, as he went 11-of-18 both and Jan. 25, 2024, at Bellarmine and Feb. 8, 2024, against North Alabama.
• Lanier’s 11 field goals also tied for the most by a Volunteer this season, equaling the mark set Nov. 17, 2024, by Miličić against Austin Peay.
• Lanier connected on six 3-pointers for the seventh time in his career, including the fifth during his lone year at Tennessee.
• Okpara’s blocked shot upped his 2024-25 tally to 60, matching Doug Roth (60 in 1988-89) for sixth place on Tennessee’s single-season list and becoming the seventh Volunteer to reach 60 in a campaign.
• Sophomore forward Cade Phillips grabbed five rebounds in the victory, his 11th time reaching that mark as a Volunteer, all of which are during the 2024-25 campaign.
• Phillips amassed a 6-of-8 ledger from the free-throw line, setting career highs in both makes and attempts.
• Phillips’ prior high in made free throws with five against Miami on Dec. 10, 2024, in New York, while his previous best in attempts was six, both against the Hurricanes and Dec. 31 versus Norfolk State.
• Freshman guard Bishop Boswell’s layup with 4:47 on the first-half clock marked his third field-goal as a Volunteer, his first points since Dec. 3, 2024, versus Syracuse and his first field goal since Nov. 21, 2024, against Virginia in Nassau, Bahamas.
• The following Volunteers made their NCAA Tournament debuts: Boswell, Lanier, Okpara, fifth-year guard Darlinstone Dubar, freshman guard Campbell Duncan, senior forward Igor Miličić Jr., and freshman guard Gavin Paull.
Late-Inning Comeback Bid Falls Short in Series Opener at #10/12 Alabama
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 1/1 Tennessee came up just short in Thursday night’s series opener at No. 10/12 Alabama, falling 6-5 at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
It was a game of runs as the Volunteers (20-2, 3-1 SEC) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead with a pair of runs in the first and another in the second – highlighted by an Andrew Fischer two-run blast in the top of the first inning – before the Crimson Tide responded with six unanswered runs in the second and third innings.
Alabama (22-1, 4-0 SEC) pounced for five runs in the bottom of the second inning to take the lead. A leadoff single followed by a hit batsman and an error loaded the bases before back-to-back walks and a bases-clearing double by star shortstop Justin Lebron resulted in a 5-3 advantage.
The Tide tacked on another run in the third on an RBI groundout to increase its lead to three after three innings of action.
Neither side was able to score in the middle three innings as both starting pitchers settled in after rocky starts.
Right fielder Bryce Fowler robbed Reese Chapman of a would-be solo home run in the sixth with an impressive leaping grab at the wall, a play that would prove to be pivotal later in the contest.
Liam Doyle suffered his first loss of the season after surrendering six runs (five earned) on six hits and four walks. The junior lefthander did well to battle through his early-game struggles to provide the Big Orange with six important innings to help preserve the bullpen and finished with nine strikeouts on the night.
Late Comeback Comes Up Just Short
Tennessee fought back to cut its deficit to one with a pair of runs in the seventh inning, recording four singles in the frame, including an RBI knock by Hunter Ensley before a sacrifice fly from Fischer to drive in his third run of the game.
The first two batters of the eighth inning reached base but a lineout double play and a strikeout ended the threat. The Vols also had the tying run aboard in the ninth after Jay Abernathy reached base with his third hit of the night, but he was caught stealing before a flyout to right field secured the sixth save of the year for Crimson Tide closer Carson Ozmer.
Loy Looks Good Again
Dylan Loy looked good once again in relief, tossing two scoreless innings to keep UT within striking distance. The sophomore lefty retired all six batters he faced after tossing 3.1 shutout frames in his previous outing against Florida last Sunday.
Up Next
The Vols will look to even the series on Friday night when the two teams meet for game two. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network+ and ESPN app.
Hoops Central: #6 [2] Tennessee vs. [7] UCLA
LEXINGTON, Ky. – After defeating 15th-seeded Wofford in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, the sixth-ranked, second-seeded Tennessee men’s basketball team prepares for a second round bout versus UCLA Saturday night at Rupp Arena. Tipoff is slated for 9:40 p.m. ET.
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GAMEDAY TIMES & BROADCAST INFO
- Opponent: UCLA Bruins
- Tipoff: Saturday, March 22 | 9:40 p.m. ET
- Venue: Rupp Arena
- Watch Online: TBS/truTV
- Online: Listen Live
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THE LATEST FROM THE VOLS
Mashack, Zeigler Selected as Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Finalists#6 [2] Vols Defeat [15] Wofford, 77-62, in NCAA Tournament OpenerGainey Named to ABIS Black Coaches WatchlistZeigler Collects USBWA Third Team All-America RecognitionLanier, Zeigler Voted NABC Third Team All-Americans
Fans can catch Saturday’s game between the Volunteers (28-7) and Bruins (22-10) on TBS/truTV. Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Jim Jackson (analyst) and Allie LaForce (reporter) will have the call.
Fans can also listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear Bob Kesling and Bert Bertelkamp describing the action.
In its most recent action, Tennessee began its program-record seventh straight NCAA Tournament berth Thursday night with a wire-to-wire victory, 77-62, over No. 15-seeded Wofford at Rupp Arena.
UT led for all but the first 13 seconds of the victory, securing a spot in the Round of 32 for the fourth straight season. Fifth-year guard Chaz Lanier dropped 29 points, the third-most by a Volunteer in NCAA Tournament play, while senior guard Zakai Zeigler had a 12-point, 12-assist double-double and broke the school record for career assists in the triumph
THE MATCHUP
• The only prior matchup came on 1/30/77, when #8 UCLA defeated #7 Tennessee, 103-89, in Atlanta.
• Tennessee owns a 35-44 all-time record against the current Big Ten membership. That includes a 66- 64 road win on 12/14/24 at Illinois on a Jordan Gainey buzzer-beater.
• Rick Barnes is 41-40 versus the current Big Ten members, including 8-8 at Tennessee with wins over seven different teams.
• Barnes was 3-1 against UCLA at Texas: a 63-61 road win on 12/2/07, a 68-64 home win on 12/4/08, a 69-59 road win on a 12/3/11 and a 65-63 home loss on 12/8/12.
• The lone prior meeting between Mick Cronin and Rick Barnes came on 3/16/12 in the NCAA Round of 64, a 65-59 Cincinnati win over Texas in Nashville, Tenn.
• UT beat Cronin-led Murray State, 64-53, on 11/30/05 in Nashville.
• UCLA, making its fourth NCAA Round of 32 appearance in the last five years, tied for fourth in its first season in the Big Ten.
• Junior forward Tyler Bilodeau, a Third Team All-Big Ten choice, paces the Bruins with 13.5 ppg.
NEWS & NOTES
• Jahmai Mashack is from Fontana, Calif., just 66 miles east of UCLA. This is his second time facing a home-state school while at UT. The Volunteers defeated USC, 73- 66 (OT), in the Battle 4 Atlantis semifinals on 11/24/22 in Paradise Island, Bahamas, en route to winning the title.
• In the victory over Wofford, Zakai Zeigler became, per Elias Sports Bureau, the sixth player in the last 50 years (1975-2025) with 12 points, 12 assists and no turnovers in NCAA Tournament play, joining Colorado’s McKinley Wright IV (2021), UCLA’s Earl Watson (2000), Bradley’s Jim Les (1986), Indiana’s Isiah Thomas (1981) and Missouri’s Larry Drew (1980).
• Chaz Lanier scored 29 points in his NCAA Tournament debut, good for the third-most ever by a Volunteer in the event and the most in a win. His six 3-pointers tied UT’s single-game record in NCAA Tournament action.
• Lanier (116) is now just two made 3-pointers shy of the Tennessee single-season record of 118, set in 2007-08 by Chris Lofton.
• The Vols are 29-27 all-time in NCAA Tournament play, including 10-6 under Rick Barnes, who has the most such wins in program history. More on Pages 10-11.
• Tennessee is looking to reach the NCAA Sweet 16 for the third straight year. It would be the first such instance in program history.
• With 834 wins, Rick Barnes is tied with John Calipari for ninth all- time (min. 10 years in DI) and for the most among active coaches.
• Zakai Zeigler’s 254 assists, a UT single-season best, are six shy of the SEC record (260 by Sean Tuohy 1979-80). His 726 career assists are a program record and the third-most in SEC history.
• Tennessee’s 199 wins over the last eight seasons (2017-25) rank co-sixth in DI, alongside Auburn, Liberty and Saint Mary’s. Only Gonzaga (239), Houston (239), Duke (216), Kansas (212) and Purdue (205) own more.
• The Vols, who reached 25 regular season victories for the third time, are in seeking their third 29-win campaign. They went 31-6 in 2018- 19 and 31-5 in 2007-08.
ALL-SEC ACCOLADES
• Zakai Zeigler and Chaz Lanier both won individual SEC awards from the league’s head coaches. Zeigler earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year plaudits for the second straight season, while Lanier claimed the inaugural SEC Newcomer of the Year honor.
• The league’s coaches tabbed Zeigler a First Team All-SEC competitor and Lanier a Second Team All- SEC designee. Zeigler is the 14th player in program history with at least three All-SEC nods that include two first-team choices. The others are Dale Ellis, Ernie Grunfeld, Allan Houston, Gilbert Huffman, Reggie Johnson, Bill Justus, Bernard King, Len Kosmalski, Chris Lofton, Dyron Nix, Paul “Lefty” Walther, Tony White and Ron Widby.
• Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack both made the cut for the coaches’ SEC All-Defensive Team. This is just the ninth season—10th instance—with multiple players from the same team receiving SEC All-Defensive Team honors, including the second in a row for UT.
• Meanwhile, in the Associated Press voting, Lanier collected First Team All-SEC distinction and Zeigler garnered Second Team All-SEC status.
A PAIR OF ALL-AMERICANS
• Chaz Lanier and Zakai Zeigler both earned The Sporting News Third Team All-America and NABC Third Team All-America plaudits. No other school put multiple players on either list.
• Zeigler was also tabbed an AP Third Team All- American and a USBWA Third Team All-American, while Lanier picked up AP All-America Honorable Mention recognition.
• Ernie Grunfeld and Bernard King form the only other same-season All-American tandem in Tennessee history. They each earned All-America plaudits in both 1975-76 and 1976-77.
• Lanier and Zeigler are also the lone teammate pair on the Wooden Award Top 15 National Ballot, from which the Wooden All-Americans and Wooden Award winner will be selected.
• The guards also form one of just three teammate tandems to make the 30-man Lute Olson Award finalist list.
RACKING UP RANKED VICTORIES
• TOP 25: In the past four years (2021-25), Tennessee’s 29 AP top-25 wins lead DI. Only Alabama (closest SEC team with 26), Connecticut (26), Kansas (26), Iowa State (25) and Purdue (23) are within seven.
• TOP 20: Tennessee is first in the nation with 25 AP top-20 triumphs over that span. Only Connecticut (24), Kansas (22) and Alabama (closest SEC team with 21) are even within five.
• TOP 15: The Volunteers lead DI with 22 AP top-15 decisions over those four years. Kansas (20) and Alabama (closest SEC team with 18) are the only schools even within five.
• TOP 10: Since 2021-22, Tennessee owns 12 AP top-10 wins, co-first nationally, alongside Connecticut (12), Iowa State (12) and Kansas (12). The only school within one is Kentucky (closest SEC team with 11). A full list of the 12 wins is on Page 12 (left sidebar).
• TOP FIVE: In that same four-year span, UT has seven AP top-five victories, the most in the country. Only four other schools have even five: Alabama (six), Arizona (six), Florida (five) and Iowa State (five).
• TOP THREE: The Vols have four AP top-three wins in those four years, matching Alabama (four), Arizona (four) and Florida (four) for the DI lead.
HIGH-CALIBER COMPANY
• Tennessee and Kansas are the only two schools to earn an AP top-five ranking in each of the last four seasons (2021-25). Only two others, Arizona and Purdue, entered 2024-25 with a three-year streak.
• The Volunteers are one of only four teams to reach the AP top six in each of the past five seasons, alongside Alabama, Houston and Kansas.
• UT is one of just five programs to reach the AP top six in at least six of the last seven seasons (2018- 25), alongside Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas and Kentucky. Those are also the only five schools to enter the AP top five in at least five different years in that stretch.
• The Vols are among only eight teams to reach the No. 1 spot in the AP Poll in at least two of the last seven seasons (2018-25), joining Auburn, Baylor, Duke, Gonzaga, Houston, Kansas and Purdue.
• Over that same seven-year stretch (2018-25), UT is also one of seven teams to claim an AP top-two position in at least three seasons, alongside Baylor, Connecticut, Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas and Purdue.
• UT is one of seven schools with an AP top-20 ranking in each of the last eight years (2017-25), alongside Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State and North Carolina. Just two others—Houston and Purdue—have even been AP top-25 each season.
• Additionally, over the last three years (2022-25), the Vols are one of just six teams to reach the AP top two in multiple seasons, joining Alabama, Connecticut, Duke, Kansas and Purdue.
QUITE THE CAMPAIGN
• Tennessee’s nine AP top-25 wins this season are its most ever, eclipsing the seven it had in both 2023- 24 and 2021-22. It has tallied at least seven in three of the last four years after never before doing so.
• UT has seven AP top-15 wins this year, passing 2021- 22 (six) for the most in school history. The Vols had five in 2022-23, giving them five-plus in three of the last four years after never before hitting that mark.
• This is the third time in program history, including the second in Rick Barnes‘ tenure, the Vols have logged four AP top-seven (or even AP top-10) victories in a single season, joining 2021-22 and 1976-77.
• Tennessee has 25-plus wins in a season for the ninth time, including the sixth under Rick Barnes (all in the last eight years) and the fourth in a row. It reached 25 victories in the regular season for the third time, joining 2018-19 (27-4) and 2007-08 (28-3).
• The Volunteers own 28-plus wins for the fourth time (second under Barnes). They went 31-6 in 2018-19, 28-9 in 2009-10 and 31-5 in 2007-08.
TOP-TIER TRIUMPHS
• Tennessee is 43-42 (.506) against AP top-25 foes under Rick Barnes, including 27-15 (.643) in its past 42 such games (since 1/22/22).
• The Volunteers are 37-34 (.521) versus AP top-20 teams in Barnes’ tenure, including 23-11 (.676) in their last 34 such affairs (since 1/22/22).
• UT is 29-27 (.518) against AP top-15 teams in the Barnes era, including 22-10 (.688) in its last 32 such games (since 12/22/21).
• The Vols own a 17-16 (.515) record versus AP top-10 foes under Barnes, including a 15-10 (.600) mark in their last 25 such contests (since 3/2/19) and a 12-7 (.632) tally in their last 19 (since 12/22/21).
• UT is 11-10 (.524) against AP top-five foes in Barnes’ tenure, including 7-5 (.583) in its last 12 such affairs (since 2/15/22). It is 9-3 (.750) versus AP top-five SEC teams, including 8-2 (.800) in its last 10 such outings (since 3/2/19).
STRONG IN THE STANDINGS
• Tennessee finished fourth in the SEC this season. It marked the program’s seventh top-four finish in the last eight years, including its fifth in a row.
• The Volunteers are the only team in the league to place top-four each of the past five seasons. Only three others have done it multiple times: Alabama (four), Auburn (three) and Kentucky (three).
• UT is also the only school to place top-four in seven of the last eight campaigns. Just three others have done it even four times: Auburn (six), Kentucky (six) and Alabama (four).
SENSATIONAL SIX
• Tennessee, Drake, Duke, Gonzaga, Houston and Saint Mary’s are the only schools with 25-plus wins each of the past four seasons (2021-22 to 2024-25).
• Only two others, Arizona and Purdue, entered 2024- 25 with a three-year streak and can still join that list.
TENNESSEE TORCHBEARER
• On 3/7/25, Chancellor Donde Plowman surpised Jahmai Mashack before a team film session by naming him a Torchbearer, which is the highest student honor conferred by the University of Tennessee. He was one of just 10 individuals to receive the prestigious distinction in 2025.
• Mashack is the fourth men’s basketball to win the award, joining Carl Langschmidt (1953), Byrl Logan (1939) and Charles Lucas (1931).
• Mashack and swimmer Griffin Hadley, a fellow 2025 winner, are the first male non-football student- athletes to receive the honor in 72 years, dating to Langschmidt. The only other male student-athletes to garner it during that time are football standouts Joshua Dobbs (2016) and Trey Smith (2020).
• The award is given for academic achievement and outstanding commitment to others as demonstrated by the student’s various activities and significant contributions to the university and the community.
#1/1 Vols Even Series with Gritty Win Over #10/12 Tide
Read Online | Box Score (PDF) | Download Postgame Media
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 1/1 Tennessee gutted out a hard-fought 10-7 victory on Friday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium to even its series with No. 10/12 Alabama.
For the second straight game, the Big Orange jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the first and two more in the second to chase Crimson Tide starter Riley Quick, who had allowed just three runs total this season entering the night, after just two innings.
The first three batters of the game all reached base and came around to score for the Vols in their three-run first inning. Andrew Fischer made it four straight batters to reach base with an RBI single before Reese Chapman drove in the final run of the frame with an RBI fielder’s choice.
A pair of RBI singles by Jay Abernathy and Hunter Ensley in the second inning increased the UT lead to 5-0 in the early going before Alabama answered with its first two runs of the game in the bottom of the third. Ensley led the Vols with his third straight multi-hit effort, finishing 3-for-4 with two runs, two RBIs and three stolen bases.
Tennessee (21-2, 4-1 SEC) never trailed in the game but was never able to build a real comfortable lead either, as the Tide continued to battle throughout the night.
After the two sides traded runs in the seventh, the Vols put together an impressive two-out rally in the eighth to score four runs and build their largest lead of the game at 10-4.
After a strikeout and a flyout to start the inning. nine-hole hitter Ariel Antigua got the rally started with an infield single before Curley blasted a two-run homer to left center for his seventh long ball of the year.
Following Curley’s homer, a pair of walks and a hit batter loaded the bases before Dalton Bargo came through with his second RBI hit of the game, lacing a single into center field to plate two more runs and extend the UT lead to six.
Despite the big inning by the Vols, the Crimson Tide (22-2, 4-1 SEC) continued to fight, answering with a run in the bottom of the eight before scoring two more in the bottom of the ninth and bringing the tying run to the plate with one out.
The duo of Andrew Behnke and Tanner Franklin was able to end the comeback bid with a pair of big outs to close out the game and secure Tennessee’s first road win of the year.
Bargo Big Off the Bench
Bargo finished the night 2-for-2 with three RBIs after entering the game as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning. His first knock was a two-out double to score Fischer from first base.
Two Out Hitting the Difference
Two-out hitting was pivotal for the Big Orange on Friday night, as they scored seven of their 10 runs – including all seven after the first inning – with two away. UT was 7-for-15 at the plate with two outs as a team and 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position, a stark difference from Thursday’s game one loss.
Notable Performances on the Mound
Marcus Phillips provided the Vols with another solid start, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits while striking out three over 4.2 innings of work.
Dylan Loy picked up his team-leading fourth win of the year after getting Tennessee out of a big jam in the bottom of the fifth inning, striking out Brennan Norton to strand the bases loaded, keeping the Vols lead intact.
Nate Snead allowed four runs but battled to provide UT with 3.1 important innings of relief before handing the ball off to Behnke and Franklin in the ninth. Franklin struck out Will Plattner with runners on first and second to end the game and earn his second save of the season.
Up Next
The Vols and Tide will meet at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday in a series-deciding rubber game that will be streamed on the SEC Network+ and ESPN app.
Lady Vol Three-Point Barrage Sinks USF, 101-66, In NCAA First Round
Read Online | Box Score (PDF) | Video Downloads | Photo Download | Watch Press Conference | Watch Highlights | Press Conference Transcript
COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 20 Tennessee opened its 43rd-straight NCAA appearance in dominant fashion on Friday night, hitting 16 three-pointers and smashing the SEC season record for treys during a 101-66 triumph in NCAA First Round play at the Schottenstein Center.
The Lady Vols (23-9), who are seeded fifth in the Birmingham 3 Regional, came in needing three buckets beyond the arc to surpass the previous mark of 314 by Arkansas in 2019-20 and took care of that with four alone in the first quarter. Jewel Spear’s deep ball with 5:13 to go was the record-breaker. UT’s 16 threes, meanwhile, was a program NCAA Tournament record, ranked second in all games in school history and tied for second most in NCAA Women’s Tournament history.
Redshirt sophomore guard Talaysia Cooper, one of three Lady Vols to hit three treys and one of eight UT players to connect from beyond the arc, led her team with 20 points, six rebounds and two steals. Samara Spencer hit a trio of three-pointers to finish with 15 points and five assists, while Zee Spearman matched Spencer’s total from long range and netted 13 points, and Spear added 11.
USF (23-11) was paced by Sammie Puisis, who knocked down five threes and finished with 28 points. L’or Mputu contributed 12, as her team was unable to keep pace with a deep Lady Vols squad that featured a 54-3 bench points advantage. The Bulls also suffered 24 turnovers and were outscored on points off turnovers by the Lady Vols, 36-10.
Spencer opened the game with a three-pointer just 10 seconds in, but South Florida responded with a 7-0 flurry to seize a 7-3 lead by the 8:18 mark. A 13-6 response by the Lady Vols, fueled by threes from Tess Darby and Spear, though, sent them into the media timeout with a 16-13 advantage. Back-to-back layups by Cooper and Alyssa Latham lifted UT to its biggest lead, 20-15, with 3:57 to go, but USF evened things at 20 by the 2:50 mark on a Puisis three contributing to her 15 first-quarter points. A Cooper three and a Kaniya Boyd layup helped close out the opening stanza with a 26-25 lead, as UT scored 12 of its points off 10 Bulls turnovers.
Tennessee exploded to a 15-4 start at the outset of the second period, with Spearman hitting a pair of threes during that spree and then a Spencer layup and Cooper trey extending the lead to 12, 41-29, with 7:08 remaining and forcing a Bulls timeout. The Lady Vols twice widened the gap to 13, getting a Cooper free throw to make it 42-29 with 6:37 to go and then a Spearman trey to increase it to 45-32 as the teams went to a media timeout with 4:49 to go. After allowing a Carla Brito tip-in, Tennessee scored the next 10 points to close out the half, with Cooper and Spencer threes running UT’s total of deep balls to 10 in the first half and sending their team into the locker room on top by 21, 55-34.
The Lady Vols opened the second half with a layup from Cooper and a jumper by Spencer to increase the margin to 25, 59-34, with 8:43 remaining in the third quarter. The teams exchanged baskets, with UT taking a 67-46 advantage into the 4:55 media break. A 7-0 USF run, including a bucket right before that timeout, enabled the Bulls to whittle the deficit to 16, 67-51, by the 4:43 mark, but a Spencer three and a Latham steal and layup pushed the margin back to 21, 72-51, forcing South Florida to ask for time with 2:24 left in the period. A three by Spear, a Cooper layup off an inbound pass and a Latham driving layup helped their team head into the final frame with a 79-56 lead.
The Big Orange began the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run and rode a 15-7 burst into the 4:11 media timeout, with a pair of threes by Darby pushing the lead to 94-63 by the 4:11 media timeout. As Tennessee closed out the game, a Sara Puckett three-pointer and a turnaround jumper in the paint rounded out the scoring and pushed the Big Orange past 100 points.
UP NEXT: Tennessee advances to the NCAA Second Round and will face No. 4 seed and No. 15/13-ranked Ohio State (26-6) on Sunday. Tip time and TV designation will be announced later. The contest also will be available on Lady Vol Network radio stations statewide and via audio stream on UTSports.com.
SIXTEEN TREYS AGAINST THE BULLS: The Lady Vols drained 16 three-pointers versus South Florida. It marked a school-best 17th time that UT has made 10 or more treys in a single game this season. The 16 tied for the second most in school history, the best by the Lady Vols in an NCAA Tournament game and tied for second best of any team in NCAA Tournament history.
SINKING THE LONG BALL INTO HISTORY: After hitting 16 deep balls vs. USF, Tennessee now has made 328 three-pointers this season, breaking the SEC record of 314 set by Arkansas during the 2019-20 campaign. Tennessee notched its highest three-point game against N.C. Central on Dec. 14, 2024, draining an NCAA, SEC and school-record 30 treys.
A RECORD-SETTING 100-POINT AFFAIR: The Lady Vols scored 100 points for the seventh time in 2024-25, tying the program record for most trips above the century mark in a season with the 1987-88 squad. That gives the program 94 all-time scoring efforts of 100 or more points through the USF contest.
SUCCESS IN THE BIG DANCE: Tennessee made its 43rd straight appearance in the NCAA First/Second Rounds, and it now owns a 65-6 record during games played in those rounds. The Lady Vols improved to 35-2 all-time in the NCAA First Round.
MISCUE MADNESS: The Lady Vols forced the Bulls to turn the ball over 24 times, making them the 20th team this season to commit at least 20 miscues. UT used that to build a 36-10 points-off-turnovers differential vs. USF.
17TH NEW STARTING LINEUP: Tennessee crafted its 17th different starting lineup of the season on Friday, with Jewel Spear, Samara Spencer, Tess Darby, Ruby Whitehorn and Jillian Hollingshead opening the contest against the Bulls. Ten different players have been in the starting lineup for the Big Orange this season.
THP: 63-Year-Old Injured, Facing Charges after Crashing Dump Truck into Vehicles in Jefferson Co.
Jefferson County, TN (WOKI) A dump truck driver is facing charges after blowing through a stop sign and crashing into a construction vehicle Friday morning on Highway 411 near the Chestnut Hill area of Jefferson County.
Officials with the Tennessee Highway Patrol say 63-year-old Christopher Moore was traveling southbound on 411 near State Highway 92 just after 7:00 a.m. when he failed to stop at a stop sign, crossed State Highway 92 and went through a road construction barrier into a construction zone, crashing into the front end of a road grader.
Moore was injured in the crash and taken by helicopter to the hospital.
He is facing charges including driving without a license and failure to obey a traffic control device.
Saturday ‘Real ID’ Appointments Now Available at Select Tennessee Driver Services Centers
The Department of Safety and Homeland Security announced today that it will begin offering additional Saturday appointments at 14 Driver Services Centers across the state for current Tennessee credential holders who want to get a REAL ID.
Saturday appointments will begin at 13 participating Driver Services Centers starting this Saturday, March 22. The Savannah Driver Services Center will offer Saturday appointments starting March 29. Saturday appointments will continue through the May 7th REAL ID implementation date.
Participating Middle Tennessee Service Centers
- Clarksville Driver Services Center – 220 West Dunbar Cave Road
- Columbia Driver Services Center – 1701 Hampshire Pike
- Cookeville Driver Services Center – 4600 South Jefferson Ave.
- Nashville/Hickory Hollow Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 5216 Hickory Hollow Pkwy.
Participating West Tennessee Service Centers
- Bartlett Express Services Center – 6340 Summer Ave.
- Jackson Driver Services Center – 100 Benchmark Circle
- Memphis/East Shelby Drive Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 3200 East Shelby Drive
- Oakland Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 160 Beau Tisdale Drive
- Savannah Driver Services Center – 1016 Pickwick St. *beginning March 29
Participating East Tennessee Service Centers
- Chattanooga/Bonny Oaks Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 6502 Bonny Oaks Drive
- Johnson City Driver Services Center – 4717 Lake Park Drive
- Knoxville/Strawberry Plains Driver Services Center – 7320 Region Lane
- Morristown County Driver Services Center – 1551 East Morris Boulevard, Suite 2
- Oak Ridge Driver Services Center – 475 Oak Ridge Turnpike
To take advantage of the new expanded Saturday appointments, applicants must already have a valid Tennessee driver license or identification card. REAL ID applicants who do not currently hold a valid Tennessee credential will be served during regular, Monday to Friday hours.
Saturday hours are available by appointment only. Applicants without a REAL ID appointment will not be served during the new Saturday hours. Schedule your REAL ID appointment now at tnrealid.gov.
REAL ID applicants must bring proof of U.S. citizenship or legal presence, proof of their Social Security Number, and two proofs of Tennessee residency. If your name has changed, you must also bring certified legal documents supporting the name change(s). This could include marriage licenses, divorce decrees, etc. All documents must be original or certified copies. Photocopies are not accepted.
The TDOSHS encourages all applicants to have their REAL ID required documents pre-approved online. Pre-approved documents can save you in-person processing time at the Driver Services Center and may eliminate repeat trips. A complete list of accepted documents and the pre-approval portal are available at tnrealid.gov.
For more information about Tennessee REAL ID, visit tnrealid.gov.
TN Attorney General Warns Against Home Improvement Fraud
Knoxville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) Experts say home improvement projects pick up in the spring, but so do scams.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti says if you’re considering hiring a contractor, you want to watch out for fraudulent contractors.
“Home improvement scams top the list of consumer complaints received by our Division of Consumer Affairs,” Skrmetti said. “If you’re planning to renovate this spring, make sure your contractor really is licensed and bonded—don’t take their word for it. Do your due diligence before you trust anyone with your money.”
The Board of Licensing Contractors got 884 complaints in 2024 and handed out more than $990,000 in civil penalties from nearly 300 of those complaints; they suggest doing your own research before hiring a contractor to include checking the status of a contractor’s or a businesses’ license through Verify.tn.gov.
The office warned of some red flags to watch out for: door-to-door sales, high-pressure sales tactics like short-time deals and demanding full payment up front.
To file a complaint about the license of a contractor or home improvement company, you can do so on the board’s website.
To file a complaint about a deceptive business practice, you can do so with the Division of Consumer Affairs.
Sheriff’s Office Charges Juvenile with Rape of Child in Blount County
Maryville, TN (WOKI) A teen in Blount County has been arrested and charged with raping a child.
Officials with the Blount County Sheriff’s Office say an investigation this week confirmed that a 4-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted by a 14-year-old boy while she was attending an in-home daycare in Blount County.
The teen has been charged with two counts of aggravated rape of a child by delinquent and is currently being held at the Blount County Juvenile facility pending a hearing in Blount County Juvenile Court.
According to the sheriff’s office, investigators are working a parallel investigation with DCS into the incident and are in the process of trying to identify and confirm other possible victims.
BCSO says the daycare owner has voluntarily closed her business and the investigation is ongoing at this time.
TDOT with a Construction Message Which will Affect Motorists in Knox and Cocke Counties
TRAFFIC ALERT
KNOX COUNTY
KNOXVILLE – Motorists traveling on I-40 West in Knox County should be aware of upcoming road construction activities that will have a temporary impact on traffic.
Beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 21, traffic on the exit ramp from I-40 West to Watt Road (Exit 369) will be shifted to the inside lane. In addition, traffic on the on-ramp from Watt Road (Exit 369) to I-40 West will be shifted to the inside shoulder.
These traffic shifts will each be complete by 6 a.m. on Monday, March 24.
This schedule is contingent on favorable weather conditions. Motorists are advised to expect delays and use extreme caution in this area as workers will be present.
As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and “Know Before You Go!” by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.
TRAFFIC ALERT
COCKE COUNTY
KNOXVILLE – Motorists traveling on U.S. 25E (State Route 32) in Cocke County should be aware of upcoming road construction activities that will have an impact on traffic.
Beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 21, U.S. 25E (State Route 32) will be closed between Lehigh Road and Hilltop Drive as crews will be installing a pipe culvert beneath the roadway. This closure will end on or before 6 a.m. on Monday, March 24.
Signage will be in place to direct motorists to the detour route.
This schedule is contingent on favorable weather conditions. Motorists are advised to expect delays and use extreme caution in this area as workers will be present.
As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and “Know Before You Go!” by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.
#6 [2] Vols Defeat [15] Wofford, 77-62, in NCAA Tournament Opener
- Box Score (PDF)
- Season Stats
- VIDEO: Tennessee Postgame
- VIDEO: Wofford Postgame
- Highlights
- Photo Gallery
Game Recap: Men’s Basketball | March 20, 2025
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The second-seeded University of Tennessee men’s basketball team began its program-record seventh straight NCAA Tournament berth Thursday night with a wire-to-wire victory, 77-62, over No. 15-seeded Wofford at Rupp Arena.
Sixth-ranked Tennessee (28-7, 12-6 SEC) led for all but the first 13 seconds of the victory, claiming a spot in the Round of 32 for the fourth straight season. Fifth-year guard Chaz Lanier dropped 29 points, the third-most by a Volunteer in NCAA Tournament play, while senior guard Zakai Zeigler had a 12-point, 12-assist double-double and broke the school record for career assists in the triumph.
The Volunteers, midway through the first half, scored 12 straight points—seven came from Lanier—in 2:58 to claim a 22-8 advantage with 11:02 on the timer. The stretch came during a span of six straight made field goals.
Wofford (19-16, 10-8 SOCON), after a 3:55 scoreless drought, responded with back-to-back 3-pointers to make it an eight-point game just 65 ticks later, but Tennessee thrice stretched the margin back to 13. The Terriers got the margin down to eight twice more before the Volunteers took a nine-point edge 36-27, into the break behind 14 points from Lanier and a 5-0 margin in points off turnovers, despite the teams posting four apiece.
Just 4:27 into the second stanza, the Volunteers got the lead back to 14, but Wofford countered with a three-point play and a 3-pointer in 89 seconds to make it 48-40 with 13:33 to go. Tennessee regained control and built the cushion to a then-game-best 16, 61-45, with 10:35 left during a span in which it hit six consecutive field-goal attempts.
The Terriers soon made three shots in a row on their end to get it down to nine, but junior forward Felix Okpara threw down dunks on the next to possession to give Tennessee a 13-point margin, 68-55, with 7:08 to play. The victors went up by 17 with 1:58 to go and then by a game-high 18 with 41 ticks on the timer, after which Wofford hit a 3-pointer to close the scoring and make it a 15-point final margin.
Lanier’s 29 points, the most ever by a Volunteer in an NCAA Tournament win, came on an 11-of-22 field-goal clip to match his career best in makes. He shot 6-of-13 from long range to tie the most single-game 3-point makes in the NCAA Tournament in program history. The Nashville, Tenn., native added five rebounds, two steals, one assist and one block in the win.
Zeigler scored his 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the floor, including a 2-of-5 mark from deep, and a perfect 2-of-2 showing at the line. The 12 assists, his fifth-most as a collegian and third-highest total of 2024-25, tied for the second-most by a Volunteer in NCAA Tournament competition. The Long Island, N.Y., native, who committed zero turnovers in 37 minutes and notched two assists, is the sixth player in the last 50 seasons (1975-2025), per Elias Sports Bureau, with 12 points, 12 assists and no turnovers in an NCAA Tournament affair.
Senior guard Jahmai Mashack added nine points, a game-best seven rebounds and two steals in the triumph.
Jackson Sivills, playing in his home state, paced the Terriers with 15 points. Fellow senior guard Corey Tripp had 14, but Tennessee held him to 6-of-17 field-goal shooting. Sophomore forward Jeremy Lorenz registered 12 points and junior guard Justin Bailey scored 10, with both shooting 4-of-6 from the field, including 2-of-3 beyond the arc.
Both sides made double-digit 3-pointers—Wofford went 11-of-26 (42.3 percent) and Tennessee shot 10-of-28 (35.7 percent)—but the Volunteers had a plus-10 margin in points at the line. They shot 15-of-22 (68.2 percent) compared to the Terriers’ 5-of-9 (55.6 percent) ledger.
Tennessee, which shot 26-of-54 (48.1 percent) overall, also did not allow a single point on the fast break or via turnover, ending the night with 3-0 and 14-0 tallies, respectively.
The Volunteers will take on either seventh-seeded UCLA in the Round of 32, with tip-off at Rupp Arena set for Saturday at 9:40 p.m., live on TBS and truTV.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS POSTGAME NOTES
• Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes upped his career win total to 834, remaining tied with John Calipari for the ninth-most all-time (min. 10 years in Division I) and for the most among active coaches.
• Barnes also increased his career NCAA Tournament record to 31-28, good for the sixth-most victories of any active Division I head coach and the second-most in the SEC.
• This is the 17th time in 29 trips to the NCAA Tournament that Barnes has led his team to the Round of 32, including the sixth in seven appearances at Tennessee.
• The Volunteers improved to 29-27 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, including 25-25 in regulation, 17-8 in the first round, 1-1 in Kentucky, 1-0 in Lexington and 1-0 against Wofford.
• Tennessee is now 9-4 as a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, as well as 5-0 against No. 15 seeds, 17-4 versus double-digit seeds and 24-11 against lower seeds.
• The Volunteers played an NCAA Tournament game at a fellow conference member’s arena for the second time ever, joining a 93-88 overtime setback against Syracuse in Baton Rouge, La., on March 13, 1977.
• Tennessee now has a four-year streak of reaching the Round of 32 for the second time ever, joining a five-year stretch from 1978-79 to 1982-83.
• The Volunteers improved to 9-0 all-time against Wofford—its fourth-most wins against any school without a loss—with this the first meeting at a neutral site.
• Thursday’s victory marked Tennessee’s 100th over the current SoCon membership, as it now owns a 100-17 record.
• Barnes is now 26-1 in his career against current SoCon members—that is good for his second-most wins without multiple losses against any league—including 11-1 at Tennessee.
• Tennessee has reached the 28-win mark for the fourth time ever, including the second in Barnes’ tenure, with the 2024-25 campaign joining 2018-19 (31-6), 2009-10 (28-9) and 2007-08 (31-5).
• The Volunteers did not make a field goal for the final 4:47 of the first half and the first 45 seconds of the second, a total span of 5:32.
• Wofford committed its seventh foul of the second half just 6:46 into the frame, putting Tennessee in the bonus with 13:14 to play, and
• Tennessee has conceded 35 or fewer first-half points in 28 of its 35 contests thus far, including 29 or fewer on 16 occasions and 23 or fewer eight times.
• The Volunteers have held a halftime advantage in 23 of their 35 outings this season, including a margin of seven-plus points 14 times, double digits 11 times, 12-plus 10 times, 14-plus eight times, 20-plus four times and 23-plus thrice.
• The Volunteers have held a lead of 15-plus points in 20 of their 35 contests this season, including leading by 18-plus in 18 of them, 20-plus in 15, 26-plus in 11 and 32-plus in five.
• Twenty of Tennessee’s 28 wins are by double digits, with 18 by 12-plus points, nine by at least 20, four by at least 35 and two by 40-plus.
• The 12 assists for Zeigler upped his career mark to 726, moving him past Johnny Darden (715 from 1975-79) for the Tennessee career record and the third-most in SEC history.
• Zeigler tied the record on the first possession of game, just 13 seconds into the contest, hitting Mashack for a 3-pointer and then broke it with 17:01 on the first-half timer on a 3-pointer by Lanier.
• Zeigler’s 12 assists also moved his season total to 254, passing Kentucky’s Tyler Ulis (246 in 2015-16) for the second-most in a campaign in SEC history, behind only Ole Miss’ Sean Tuohy (260 in 1979-80).
• Zeigler’s two steals moved his career total to 247, passing LSU’s Torris Bright (245 from 1999-2003) for sole possession of the No. 10 spot on the SEC all-time leaderboard.
• Zeigler made his 135th appearance as a Volunteer, tying Kyle Alexander (2015-19) for seventh place in program history.
• The 37 minutes for Zeigler upped his career tally to 3,923, eclipsing Brandon Wharton (3,904 from 1995-99) for eighth-most in Tennessee history.
• Zeigler now owns two of the five double-digit assist performances by a Volunteer in NCAA tournament play, as he logged 10 on March 21, 2024, against Saint Peter’s.
• The 12 assists matched Johnny Darden’s total on March 13, 1977, against Syracuse for the second-most by a Tennessee player in the NCAA Tournament, trailing just the 16 by Bert Bertelkamp on March 8, 1980, against Furman.
• In both of Zeigler’s 10-assist NCAA Tournament showings, he also had 10-plus points, giving him the only two points/assists double-doubles ever by a Volunteer in the event.
• Zeigler amassed double-digit assists for the 14th time in his career, including the sixth in 2024-25, with this his fifth time—third this year—posting 12-plus.
• Zeigler now owns 13 double-doubles in his career, with 12 of them—seven more than any other Volunteer—featuring points and assists.
• Over the last 50 seasons (1975-2025), Zeigler is, per the Elias Sports Bureau, the sixth player to compile at least 12 points, 12 assists and zero turnovers in an NCAA Tournament game, joining the following individuals: Colorado’s McKinley Wright IV (March 20, 2021, versus Georgetown), UCLA’s Earl Watson (March 18, 2000, versus Maryland), Bradley’s Jim Les (March 13, 1986, versus UTEP), Indiana’s Isiah Thomas (March 14, 1981, versus Maryland) and Missouri’s Larry Drew (March 8, 1980, versus Notre Dame).
• Across those 50 years, Zeigler is, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the 10th player with even 12 assists and zero turnovers, regardless of point total, in an NCAA Tournament affair.
• Zeigler is the only SEC player in the last 20 years (2005-25) with 12 assists, 10 points and no turnovers in a single game.
• In those same 20 seasons, Zeigler now has two outings with 12-plus assists and zero turnovers, while every other SEC player combined has three, with the list as follows: Kentucky’s Sahvir Wheeler (Nov. 12, 2021, versus Robert Morris), Tennessee’s Lamonte’ Turner (Nov. 12, 2019, versus Murray State), Kentucky’s Rajon Rondo (Feb. 22, 2006, versus Ole Miss).
• Zeigler is the only player in 2024-25 with 12 points, 12 assists and zero turnovers in a regulation game against a Division I opponent, with the last instance recorded one season ago by Gonzaga’s Ryan Nembhard on March 11, 2024, versus San Francisco in Paradise, Nev.
• Zeigler and Mashack, who already own the school’s four-year wins record, recorded their 107th victory at Tennessee, eclipsing four-and-a-half-year competitor Santiago Vescovi (106) for sole possession of fourth place on the program’s overall wins list.
• Lanier’s six 3-point makes pushed his season total to 116, moving him up to No. 10 on the SEC single-season leaderboard.
• The 116 made 3-pointers for Lanier this season also put him second on Tennessee’s single-season list, as he eclipsed Chris Lofton (114 in 2005-06).
• The 29 points by Lanier eclipsed the 28 by Reggie Johnson on March 6, 1980, against Furman for the most by a Volunteer in an NCAA Tournament win.
• The only Tennessee players to score greater than 29 points in an NCAA Tournament contest are Dalton Knecht (37 on March 31, 2024, versus Purdue) and Ernie Grunfeld (36 on March 13, 1976, versus VMI).
• Lanier registered the 29th 20-point performance of his career, including the 14th in his lone season as a Volunteer, as well as reached 25 points for the 14th time, including the sixth in 2024-25.
• The 29 points for Lanier marked his second-highest total of the season, trailing only the 30 he scored Feb. 22 at Texas A&M.
• The 11 made field goals for Lanier set a new season high—he made 10 on three occasions—and matched his career best, set twice during his North Florida tenure, as he went 11-of-18 both and Jan. 25, 2024, at Bellarmine and Feb. 8, 2024, against North Alabama.
• Lanier’s 11 field goals also tied for the most by a Volunteer this season, equaling the mark set Nov. 17, 2024, by Miličić against Austin Peay.
• Lanier connected on six 3-pointers for the seventh time in his career, including the fifth during his lone year at Tennessee.
• Okpara’s blocked shot upped his 2024-25 tally to 60, matching Doug Roth (60 in 1988-89) for sixth place on Tennessee’s single-season list and becoming the seventh Volunteer to reach 60 in a campaign.
• Sophomore forward Cade Phillips grabbed five rebounds in the victory, his 11th time reaching that mark as a Volunteer, all of which are during the 2024-25 campaign.
• Phillips amassed a 6-of-8 ledger from the free-throw line, setting career highs in both makes and attempts.
• Phillips’ prior high in made free throws with five against Miami on Dec. 10, 2024, in New York, while his previous best in attempts was six, both against the Hurricanes and Dec. 31 versus Norfolk State.
• Freshman guard Bishop Boswell’s layup with 4:47 on the first-half clock marked his third field-goal as a Volunteer, his first points since Dec. 3, 2024, versus Syracuse and his first field goal since Nov. 21, 2024, against Virginia in Nassau, Bahamas.
• The following Volunteers made their NCAA Tournament debuts: Boswell, Lanier, Okpara, fifth-year guard Darlinstone Dubar, freshman guard Campbell Duncan, senior forward Igor Miličić Jr., and freshman guard Gavin Paull.
Late-Inning Comeback Bid Falls Short in Series Opener at #10/12 Alabama
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 1/1 Tennessee came up just short in Thursday night’s series opener at No. 10/12 Alabama, falling 6-5 at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
It was a game of runs as the Volunteers (20-2, 3-1 SEC) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead with a pair of runs in the first and another in the second – highlighted by an Andrew Fischer two-run blast in the top of the first inning – before the Crimson Tide responded with six unanswered runs in the second and third innings.
Alabama (22-1, 4-0 SEC) pounced for five runs in the bottom of the second inning to take the lead. A leadoff single followed by a hit batsman and an error loaded the bases before back-to-back walks and a bases-clearing double by star shortstop Justin Lebron resulted in a 5-3 advantage.
The Tide tacked on another run in the third on an RBI groundout to increase its lead to three after three innings of action.
Neither side was able to score in the middle three innings as both starting pitchers settled in after rocky starts.
Right fielder Bryce Fowler robbed Reese Chapman of a would-be solo home run in the sixth with an impressive leaping grab at the wall, a play that would prove to be pivotal later in the contest.
Liam Doyle suffered his first loss of the season after surrendering six runs (five earned) on six hits and four walks. The junior lefthander did well to battle through his early-game struggles to provide the Big Orange with six important innings to help preserve the bullpen and finished with nine strikeouts on the night.
Late Comeback Comes Up Just Short
Tennessee fought back to cut its deficit to one with a pair of runs in the seventh inning, recording four singles in the frame, including an RBI knock by Hunter Ensley before a sacrifice fly from Fischer to drive in his third run of the game.
The first two batters of the eighth inning reached base but a lineout double play and a strikeout ended the threat. The Vols also had the tying run aboard in the ninth after Jay Abernathy reached base with his third hit of the night, but he was caught stealing before a flyout to right field secured the sixth save of the year for Crimson Tide closer Carson Ozmer.
Loy Looks Good Again
Dylan Loy looked good once again in relief, tossing two scoreless innings to keep UT within striking distance. The sophomore lefty retired all six batters he faced after tossing 3.1 shutout frames in his previous outing against Florida last Sunday.
Up Next
The Vols will look to even the series on Friday night when the two teams meet for game two. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network+ and ESPN app.
Hoops Central: #6 [2] Tennessee vs. [7] UCLA
LEXINGTON, Ky. – After defeating 15th-seeded Wofford in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, the sixth-ranked, second-seeded Tennessee men’s basketball team prepares for a second round bout versus UCLA Saturday night at Rupp Arena. Tipoff is slated for 9:40 p.m. ET.
MORE INFO
GAMEDAY TIMES & BROADCAST INFO
- Opponent: UCLA Bruins
- Tipoff: Saturday, March 22 | 9:40 p.m. ET
- Venue: Rupp Arena
- Watch Online: TBS/truTV
- Online: Listen Live
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THE LATEST FROM THE VOLS
Mashack, Zeigler Selected as Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Finalists#6 [2] Vols Defeat [15] Wofford, 77-62, in NCAA Tournament OpenerGainey Named to ABIS Black Coaches WatchlistZeigler Collects USBWA Third Team All-America RecognitionLanier, Zeigler Voted NABC Third Team All-Americans
Fans can catch Saturday’s game between the Volunteers (28-7) and Bruins (22-10) on TBS/truTV. Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Jim Jackson (analyst) and Allie LaForce (reporter) will have the call.
Fans can also listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear Bob Kesling and Bert Bertelkamp describing the action.
In its most recent action, Tennessee began its program-record seventh straight NCAA Tournament berth Thursday night with a wire-to-wire victory, 77-62, over No. 15-seeded Wofford at Rupp Arena.
UT led for all but the first 13 seconds of the victory, securing a spot in the Round of 32 for the fourth straight season. Fifth-year guard Chaz Lanier dropped 29 points, the third-most by a Volunteer in NCAA Tournament play, while senior guard Zakai Zeigler had a 12-point, 12-assist double-double and broke the school record for career assists in the triumph
THE MATCHUP
• The only prior matchup came on 1/30/77, when #8 UCLA defeated #7 Tennessee, 103-89, in Atlanta.
• Tennessee owns a 35-44 all-time record against the current Big Ten membership. That includes a 66- 64 road win on 12/14/24 at Illinois on a Jordan Gainey buzzer-beater.
• Rick Barnes is 41-40 versus the current Big Ten members, including 8-8 at Tennessee with wins over seven different teams.
• Barnes was 3-1 against UCLA at Texas: a 63-61 road win on 12/2/07, a 68-64 home win on 12/4/08, a 69-59 road win on a 12/3/11 and a 65-63 home loss on 12/8/12.
• The lone prior meeting between Mick Cronin and Rick Barnes came on 3/16/12 in the NCAA Round of 64, a 65-59 Cincinnati win over Texas in Nashville, Tenn.
• UT beat Cronin-led Murray State, 64-53, on 11/30/05 in Nashville.
• UCLA, making its fourth NCAA Round of 32 appearance in the last five years, tied for fourth in its first season in the Big Ten.
• Junior forward Tyler Bilodeau, a Third Team All-Big Ten choice, paces the Bruins with 13.5 ppg.
NEWS & NOTES
• Jahmai Mashack is from Fontana, Calif., just 66 miles east of UCLA. This is his second time facing a home-state school while at UT. The Volunteers defeated USC, 73- 66 (OT), in the Battle 4 Atlantis semifinals on 11/24/22 in Paradise Island, Bahamas, en route to winning the title.
• In the victory over Wofford, Zakai Zeigler became, per Elias Sports Bureau, the sixth player in the last 50 years (1975-2025) with 12 points, 12 assists and no turnovers in NCAA Tournament play, joining Colorado’s McKinley Wright IV (2021), UCLA’s Earl Watson (2000), Bradley’s Jim Les (1986), Indiana’s Isiah Thomas (1981) and Missouri’s Larry Drew (1980).
• Chaz Lanier scored 29 points in his NCAA Tournament debut, good for the third-most ever by a Volunteer in the event and the most in a win. His six 3-pointers tied UT’s single-game record in NCAA Tournament action.
• Lanier (116) is now just two made 3-pointers shy of the Tennessee single-season record of 118, set in 2007-08 by Chris Lofton.
• The Vols are 29-27 all-time in NCAA Tournament play, including 10-6 under Rick Barnes, who has the most such wins in program history. More on Pages 10-11.
• Tennessee is looking to reach the NCAA Sweet 16 for the third straight year. It would be the first such instance in program history.
• With 834 wins, Rick Barnes is tied with John Calipari for ninth all- time (min. 10 years in DI) and for the most among active coaches.
• Zakai Zeigler’s 254 assists, a UT single-season best, are six shy of the SEC record (260 by Sean Tuohy 1979-80). His 726 career assists are a program record and the third-most in SEC history.
• Tennessee’s 199 wins over the last eight seasons (2017-25) rank co-sixth in DI, alongside Auburn, Liberty and Saint Mary’s. Only Gonzaga (239), Houston (239), Duke (216), Kansas (212) and Purdue (205) own more.
• The Vols, who reached 25 regular season victories for the third time, are in seeking their third 29-win campaign. They went 31-6 in 2018- 19 and 31-5 in 2007-08.
ALL-SEC ACCOLADES
• Zakai Zeigler and Chaz Lanier both won individual SEC awards from the league’s head coaches. Zeigler earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year plaudits for the second straight season, while Lanier claimed the inaugural SEC Newcomer of the Year honor.
• The league’s coaches tabbed Zeigler a First Team All-SEC competitor and Lanier a Second Team All- SEC designee. Zeigler is the 14th player in program history with at least three All-SEC nods that include two first-team choices. The others are Dale Ellis, Ernie Grunfeld, Allan Houston, Gilbert Huffman, Reggie Johnson, Bill Justus, Bernard King, Len Kosmalski, Chris Lofton, Dyron Nix, Paul “Lefty” Walther, Tony White and Ron Widby.
• Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack both made the cut for the coaches’ SEC All-Defensive Team. This is just the ninth season—10th instance—with multiple players from the same team receiving SEC All-Defensive Team honors, including the second in a row for UT.
• Meanwhile, in the Associated Press voting, Lanier collected First Team All-SEC distinction and Zeigler garnered Second Team All-SEC status.
A PAIR OF ALL-AMERICANS
• Chaz Lanier and Zakai Zeigler both earned The Sporting News Third Team All-America and NABC Third Team All-America plaudits. No other school put multiple players on either list.
• Zeigler was also tabbed an AP Third Team All- American and a USBWA Third Team All-American, while Lanier picked up AP All-America Honorable Mention recognition.
• Ernie Grunfeld and Bernard King form the only other same-season All-American tandem in Tennessee history. They each earned All-America plaudits in both 1975-76 and 1976-77.
• Lanier and Zeigler are also the lone teammate pair on the Wooden Award Top 15 National Ballot, from which the Wooden All-Americans and Wooden Award winner will be selected.
• The guards also form one of just three teammate tandems to make the 30-man Lute Olson Award finalist list.
RACKING UP RANKED VICTORIES
• TOP 25: In the past four years (2021-25), Tennessee’s 29 AP top-25 wins lead DI. Only Alabama (closest SEC team with 26), Connecticut (26), Kansas (26), Iowa State (25) and Purdue (23) are within seven.
• TOP 20: Tennessee is first in the nation with 25 AP top-20 triumphs over that span. Only Connecticut (24), Kansas (22) and Alabama (closest SEC team with 21) are even within five.
• TOP 15: The Volunteers lead DI with 22 AP top-15 decisions over those four years. Kansas (20) and Alabama (closest SEC team with 18) are the only schools even within five.
• TOP 10: Since 2021-22, Tennessee owns 12 AP top-10 wins, co-first nationally, alongside Connecticut (12), Iowa State (12) and Kansas (12). The only school within one is Kentucky (closest SEC team with 11). A full list of the 12 wins is on Page 12 (left sidebar).
• TOP FIVE: In that same four-year span, UT has seven AP top-five victories, the most in the country. Only four other schools have even five: Alabama (six), Arizona (six), Florida (five) and Iowa State (five).
• TOP THREE: The Vols have four AP top-three wins in those four years, matching Alabama (four), Arizona (four) and Florida (four) for the DI lead.
HIGH-CALIBER COMPANY
• Tennessee and Kansas are the only two schools to earn an AP top-five ranking in each of the last four seasons (2021-25). Only two others, Arizona and Purdue, entered 2024-25 with a three-year streak.
• The Volunteers are one of only four teams to reach the AP top six in each of the past five seasons, alongside Alabama, Houston and Kansas.
• UT is one of just five programs to reach the AP top six in at least six of the last seven seasons (2018- 25), alongside Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas and Kentucky. Those are also the only five schools to enter the AP top five in at least five different years in that stretch.
• The Vols are among only eight teams to reach the No. 1 spot in the AP Poll in at least two of the last seven seasons (2018-25), joining Auburn, Baylor, Duke, Gonzaga, Houston, Kansas and Purdue.
• Over that same seven-year stretch (2018-25), UT is also one of seven teams to claim an AP top-two position in at least three seasons, alongside Baylor, Connecticut, Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas and Purdue.
• UT is one of seven schools with an AP top-20 ranking in each of the last eight years (2017-25), alongside Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State and North Carolina. Just two others—Houston and Purdue—have even been AP top-25 each season.
• Additionally, over the last three years (2022-25), the Vols are one of just six teams to reach the AP top two in multiple seasons, joining Alabama, Connecticut, Duke, Kansas and Purdue.
QUITE THE CAMPAIGN
• Tennessee’s nine AP top-25 wins this season are its most ever, eclipsing the seven it had in both 2023- 24 and 2021-22. It has tallied at least seven in three of the last four years after never before doing so.
• UT has seven AP top-15 wins this year, passing 2021- 22 (six) for the most in school history. The Vols had five in 2022-23, giving them five-plus in three of the last four years after never before hitting that mark.
• This is the third time in program history, including the second in Rick Barnes‘ tenure, the Vols have logged four AP top-seven (or even AP top-10) victories in a single season, joining 2021-22 and 1976-77.
• Tennessee has 25-plus wins in a season for the ninth time, including the sixth under Rick Barnes (all in the last eight years) and the fourth in a row. It reached 25 victories in the regular season for the third time, joining 2018-19 (27-4) and 2007-08 (28-3).
• The Volunteers own 28-plus wins for the fourth time (second under Barnes). They went 31-6 in 2018-19, 28-9 in 2009-10 and 31-5 in 2007-08.
TOP-TIER TRIUMPHS
• Tennessee is 43-42 (.506) against AP top-25 foes under Rick Barnes, including 27-15 (.643) in its past 42 such games (since 1/22/22).
• The Volunteers are 37-34 (.521) versus AP top-20 teams in Barnes’ tenure, including 23-11 (.676) in their last 34 such affairs (since 1/22/22).
• UT is 29-27 (.518) against AP top-15 teams in the Barnes era, including 22-10 (.688) in its last 32 such games (since 12/22/21).
• The Vols own a 17-16 (.515) record versus AP top-10 foes under Barnes, including a 15-10 (.600) mark in their last 25 such contests (since 3/2/19) and a 12-7 (.632) tally in their last 19 (since 12/22/21).
• UT is 11-10 (.524) against AP top-five foes in Barnes’ tenure, including 7-5 (.583) in its last 12 such affairs (since 2/15/22). It is 9-3 (.750) versus AP top-five SEC teams, including 8-2 (.800) in its last 10 such outings (since 3/2/19).
STRONG IN THE STANDINGS
• Tennessee finished fourth in the SEC this season. It marked the program’s seventh top-four finish in the last eight years, including its fifth in a row.
• The Volunteers are the only team in the league to place top-four each of the past five seasons. Only three others have done it multiple times: Alabama (four), Auburn (three) and Kentucky (three).
• UT is also the only school to place top-four in seven of the last eight campaigns. Just three others have done it even four times: Auburn (six), Kentucky (six) and Alabama (four).
SENSATIONAL SIX
• Tennessee, Drake, Duke, Gonzaga, Houston and Saint Mary’s are the only schools with 25-plus wins each of the past four seasons (2021-22 to 2024-25).
• Only two others, Arizona and Purdue, entered 2024- 25 with a three-year streak and can still join that list.
TENNESSEE TORCHBEARER
• On 3/7/25, Chancellor Donde Plowman surpised Jahmai Mashack before a team film session by naming him a Torchbearer, which is the highest student honor conferred by the University of Tennessee. He was one of just 10 individuals to receive the prestigious distinction in 2025.
• Mashack is the fourth men’s basketball to win the award, joining Carl Langschmidt (1953), Byrl Logan (1939) and Charles Lucas (1931).
• Mashack and swimmer Griffin Hadley, a fellow 2025 winner, are the first male non-football student- athletes to receive the honor in 72 years, dating to Langschmidt. The only other male student-athletes to garner it during that time are football standouts Joshua Dobbs (2016) and Trey Smith (2020).
• The award is given for academic achievement and outstanding commitment to others as demonstrated by the student’s various activities and significant contributions to the university and the community.
#1/1 Vols Even Series with Gritty Win Over #10/12 Tide
Read Online | Box Score (PDF) | Download Postgame Media
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 1/1 Tennessee gutted out a hard-fought 10-7 victory on Friday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium to even its series with No. 10/12 Alabama.
For the second straight game, the Big Orange jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the first and two more in the second to chase Crimson Tide starter Riley Quick, who had allowed just three runs total this season entering the night, after just two innings.
The first three batters of the game all reached base and came around to score for the Vols in their three-run first inning. Andrew Fischer made it four straight batters to reach base with an RBI single before Reese Chapman drove in the final run of the frame with an RBI fielder’s choice.
A pair of RBI singles by Jay Abernathy and Hunter Ensley in the second inning increased the UT lead to 5-0 in the early going before Alabama answered with its first two runs of the game in the bottom of the third. Ensley led the Vols with his third straight multi-hit effort, finishing 3-for-4 with two runs, two RBIs and three stolen bases.
Tennessee (21-2, 4-1 SEC) never trailed in the game but was never able to build a real comfortable lead either, as the Tide continued to battle throughout the night.
After the two sides traded runs in the seventh, the Vols put together an impressive two-out rally in the eighth to score four runs and build their largest lead of the game at 10-4.
After a strikeout and a flyout to start the inning. nine-hole hitter Ariel Antigua got the rally started with an infield single before Curley blasted a two-run homer to left center for his seventh long ball of the year.
Following Curley’s homer, a pair of walks and a hit batter loaded the bases before Dalton Bargo came through with his second RBI hit of the game, lacing a single into center field to plate two more runs and extend the UT lead to six.
Despite the big inning by the Vols, the Crimson Tide (22-2, 4-1 SEC) continued to fight, answering with a run in the bottom of the eight before scoring two more in the bottom of the ninth and bringing the tying run to the plate with one out.
The duo of Andrew Behnke and Tanner Franklin was able to end the comeback bid with a pair of big outs to close out the game and secure Tennessee’s first road win of the year.
Bargo Big Off the Bench
Bargo finished the night 2-for-2 with three RBIs after entering the game as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning. His first knock was a two-out double to score Fischer from first base.
Two Out Hitting the Difference
Two-out hitting was pivotal for the Big Orange on Friday night, as they scored seven of their 10 runs – including all seven after the first inning – with two away. UT was 7-for-15 at the plate with two outs as a team and 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position, a stark difference from Thursday’s game one loss.
Notable Performances on the Mound
Marcus Phillips provided the Vols with another solid start, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits while striking out three over 4.2 innings of work.
Dylan Loy picked up his team-leading fourth win of the year after getting Tennessee out of a big jam in the bottom of the fifth inning, striking out Brennan Norton to strand the bases loaded, keeping the Vols lead intact.
Nate Snead allowed four runs but battled to provide UT with 3.1 important innings of relief before handing the ball off to Behnke and Franklin in the ninth. Franklin struck out Will Plattner with runners on first and second to end the game and earn his second save of the season.
Up Next
The Vols and Tide will meet at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday in a series-deciding rubber game that will be streamed on the SEC Network+ and ESPN app.
Lady Vol Three-Point Barrage Sinks USF, 101-66, In NCAA First Round
Read Online | Box Score (PDF) | Video Downloads | Photo Download | Watch Press Conference | Watch Highlights | Press Conference Transcript
COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 20 Tennessee opened its 43rd-straight NCAA appearance in dominant fashion on Friday night, hitting 16 three-pointers and smashing the SEC season record for treys during a 101-66 triumph in NCAA First Round play at the Schottenstein Center.
The Lady Vols (23-9), who are seeded fifth in the Birmingham 3 Regional, came in needing three buckets beyond the arc to surpass the previous mark of 314 by Arkansas in 2019-20 and took care of that with four alone in the first quarter. Jewel Spear’s deep ball with 5:13 to go was the record-breaker. UT’s 16 threes, meanwhile, was a program NCAA Tournament record, ranked second in all games in school history and tied for second most in NCAA Women’s Tournament history.
Redshirt sophomore guard Talaysia Cooper, one of three Lady Vols to hit three treys and one of eight UT players to connect from beyond the arc, led her team with 20 points, six rebounds and two steals. Samara Spencer hit a trio of three-pointers to finish with 15 points and five assists, while Zee Spearman matched Spencer’s total from long range and netted 13 points, and Spear added 11.
USF (23-11) was paced by Sammie Puisis, who knocked down five threes and finished with 28 points. L’or Mputu contributed 12, as her team was unable to keep pace with a deep Lady Vols squad that featured a 54-3 bench points advantage. The Bulls also suffered 24 turnovers and were outscored on points off turnovers by the Lady Vols, 36-10.
Spencer opened the game with a three-pointer just 10 seconds in, but South Florida responded with a 7-0 flurry to seize a 7-3 lead by the 8:18 mark. A 13-6 response by the Lady Vols, fueled by threes from Tess Darby and Spear, though, sent them into the media timeout with a 16-13 advantage. Back-to-back layups by Cooper and Alyssa Latham lifted UT to its biggest lead, 20-15, with 3:57 to go, but USF evened things at 20 by the 2:50 mark on a Puisis three contributing to her 15 first-quarter points. A Cooper three and a Kaniya Boyd layup helped close out the opening stanza with a 26-25 lead, as UT scored 12 of its points off 10 Bulls turnovers.
Tennessee exploded to a 15-4 start at the outset of the second period, with Spearman hitting a pair of threes during that spree and then a Spencer layup and Cooper trey extending the lead to 12, 41-29, with 7:08 remaining and forcing a Bulls timeout. The Lady Vols twice widened the gap to 13, getting a Cooper free throw to make it 42-29 with 6:37 to go and then a Spearman trey to increase it to 45-32 as the teams went to a media timeout with 4:49 to go. After allowing a Carla Brito tip-in, Tennessee scored the next 10 points to close out the half, with Cooper and Spencer threes running UT’s total of deep balls to 10 in the first half and sending their team into the locker room on top by 21, 55-34.
The Lady Vols opened the second half with a layup from Cooper and a jumper by Spencer to increase the margin to 25, 59-34, with 8:43 remaining in the third quarter. The teams exchanged baskets, with UT taking a 67-46 advantage into the 4:55 media break. A 7-0 USF run, including a bucket right before that timeout, enabled the Bulls to whittle the deficit to 16, 67-51, by the 4:43 mark, but a Spencer three and a Latham steal and layup pushed the margin back to 21, 72-51, forcing South Florida to ask for time with 2:24 left in the period. A three by Spear, a Cooper layup off an inbound pass and a Latham driving layup helped their team head into the final frame with a 79-56 lead.
The Big Orange began the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run and rode a 15-7 burst into the 4:11 media timeout, with a pair of threes by Darby pushing the lead to 94-63 by the 4:11 media timeout. As Tennessee closed out the game, a Sara Puckett three-pointer and a turnaround jumper in the paint rounded out the scoring and pushed the Big Orange past 100 points.
UP NEXT: Tennessee advances to the NCAA Second Round and will face No. 4 seed and No. 15/13-ranked Ohio State (26-6) on Sunday. Tip time and TV designation will be announced later. The contest also will be available on Lady Vol Network radio stations statewide and via audio stream on UTSports.com.
SIXTEEN TREYS AGAINST THE BULLS: The Lady Vols drained 16 three-pointers versus South Florida. It marked a school-best 17th time that UT has made 10 or more treys in a single game this season. The 16 tied for the second most in school history, the best by the Lady Vols in an NCAA Tournament game and tied for second best of any team in NCAA Tournament history.
SINKING THE LONG BALL INTO HISTORY: After hitting 16 deep balls vs. USF, Tennessee now has made 328 three-pointers this season, breaking the SEC record of 314 set by Arkansas during the 2019-20 campaign. Tennessee notched its highest three-point game against N.C. Central on Dec. 14, 2024, draining an NCAA, SEC and school-record 30 treys.
A RECORD-SETTING 100-POINT AFFAIR: The Lady Vols scored 100 points for the seventh time in 2024-25, tying the program record for most trips above the century mark in a season with the 1987-88 squad. That gives the program 94 all-time scoring efforts of 100 or more points through the USF contest.
SUCCESS IN THE BIG DANCE: Tennessee made its 43rd straight appearance in the NCAA First/Second Rounds, and it now owns a 65-6 record during games played in those rounds. The Lady Vols improved to 35-2 all-time in the NCAA First Round.
MISCUE MADNESS: The Lady Vols forced the Bulls to turn the ball over 24 times, making them the 20th team this season to commit at least 20 miscues. UT used that to build a 36-10 points-off-turnovers differential vs. USF.
17TH NEW STARTING LINEUP: Tennessee crafted its 17th different starting lineup of the season on Friday, with Jewel Spear, Samara Spencer, Tess Darby, Ruby Whitehorn and Jillian Hollingshead opening the contest against the Bulls. Ten different players have been in the starting lineup for the Big Orange this season.
THP: 63-Year-Old Injured, Facing Charges after Crashing Dump Truck into Vehicles in Jefferson Co.
Jefferson County, TN (WOKI) A dump truck driver is facing charges after blowing through a stop sign and crashing into a construction vehicle Friday morning on Highway 411 near the Chestnut Hill area of Jefferson County.
Officials with the Tennessee Highway Patrol say 63-year-old Christopher Moore was traveling southbound on 411 near State Highway 92 just after 7:00 a.m. when he failed to stop at a stop sign, crossed State Highway 92 and went through a road construction barrier into a construction zone, crashing into the front end of a road grader.
Moore was injured in the crash and taken by helicopter to the hospital.
He is facing charges including driving without a license and failure to obey a traffic control device.
Saturday ‘Real ID’ Appointments Now Available at Select Tennessee Driver Services Centers
The Department of Safety and Homeland Security announced today that it will begin offering additional Saturday appointments at 14 Driver Services Centers across the state for current Tennessee credential holders who want to get a REAL ID.
Saturday appointments will begin at 13 participating Driver Services Centers starting this Saturday, March 22. The Savannah Driver Services Center will offer Saturday appointments starting March 29. Saturday appointments will continue through the May 7th REAL ID implementation date.
Participating Middle Tennessee Service Centers
- Clarksville Driver Services Center – 220 West Dunbar Cave Road
- Columbia Driver Services Center – 1701 Hampshire Pike
- Cookeville Driver Services Center – 4600 South Jefferson Ave.
- Nashville/Hickory Hollow Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 5216 Hickory Hollow Pkwy.
Participating West Tennessee Service Centers
- Bartlett Express Services Center – 6340 Summer Ave.
- Jackson Driver Services Center – 100 Benchmark Circle
- Memphis/East Shelby Drive Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 3200 East Shelby Drive
- Oakland Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 160 Beau Tisdale Drive
- Savannah Driver Services Center – 1016 Pickwick St. *beginning March 29
Participating East Tennessee Service Centers
- Chattanooga/Bonny Oaks Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 6502 Bonny Oaks Drive
- Johnson City Driver Services Center – 4717 Lake Park Drive
- Knoxville/Strawberry Plains Driver Services Center – 7320 Region Lane
- Morristown County Driver Services Center – 1551 East Morris Boulevard, Suite 2
- Oak Ridge Driver Services Center – 475 Oak Ridge Turnpike
To take advantage of the new expanded Saturday appointments, applicants must already have a valid Tennessee driver license or identification card. REAL ID applicants who do not currently hold a valid Tennessee credential will be served during regular, Monday to Friday hours.
Saturday hours are available by appointment only. Applicants without a REAL ID appointment will not be served during the new Saturday hours. Schedule your REAL ID appointment now at tnrealid.gov.
REAL ID applicants must bring proof of U.S. citizenship or legal presence, proof of their Social Security Number, and two proofs of Tennessee residency. If your name has changed, you must also bring certified legal documents supporting the name change(s). This could include marriage licenses, divorce decrees, etc. All documents must be original or certified copies. Photocopies are not accepted.
The TDOSHS encourages all applicants to have their REAL ID required documents pre-approved online. Pre-approved documents can save you in-person processing time at the Driver Services Center and may eliminate repeat trips. A complete list of accepted documents and the pre-approval portal are available at tnrealid.gov.
For more information about Tennessee REAL ID, visit tnrealid.gov.
TN Attorney General Warns Against Home Improvement Fraud
Knoxville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) Experts say home improvement projects pick up in the spring, but so do scams.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti says if you’re considering hiring a contractor, you want to watch out for fraudulent contractors.
“Home improvement scams top the list of consumer complaints received by our Division of Consumer Affairs,” Skrmetti said. “If you’re planning to renovate this spring, make sure your contractor really is licensed and bonded—don’t take their word for it. Do your due diligence before you trust anyone with your money.”
The Board of Licensing Contractors got 884 complaints in 2024 and handed out more than $990,000 in civil penalties from nearly 300 of those complaints; they suggest doing your own research before hiring a contractor to include checking the status of a contractor’s or a businesses’ license through Verify.tn.gov.
The office warned of some red flags to watch out for: door-to-door sales, high-pressure sales tactics like short-time deals and demanding full payment up front.
To file a complaint about the license of a contractor or home improvement company, you can do so on the board’s website.
To file a complaint about a deceptive business practice, you can do so with the Division of Consumer Affairs.
Sheriff’s Office Charges Juvenile with Rape of Child in Blount County
Maryville, TN (WOKI) A teen in Blount County has been arrested and charged with raping a child.
Officials with the Blount County Sheriff’s Office say an investigation this week confirmed that a 4-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted by a 14-year-old boy while she was attending an in-home daycare in Blount County.
The teen has been charged with two counts of aggravated rape of a child by delinquent and is currently being held at the Blount County Juvenile facility pending a hearing in Blount County Juvenile Court.
According to the sheriff’s office, investigators are working a parallel investigation with DCS into the incident and are in the process of trying to identify and confirm other possible victims.
BCSO says the daycare owner has voluntarily closed her business and the investigation is ongoing at this time.
TDOT with a Construction Message Which will Affect Motorists in Knox and Cocke Counties
TRAFFIC ALERT
KNOX COUNTY
KNOXVILLE – Motorists traveling on I-40 West in Knox County should be aware of upcoming road construction activities that will have a temporary impact on traffic.
Beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 21, traffic on the exit ramp from I-40 West to Watt Road (Exit 369) will be shifted to the inside lane. In addition, traffic on the on-ramp from Watt Road (Exit 369) to I-40 West will be shifted to the inside shoulder.
These traffic shifts will each be complete by 6 a.m. on Monday, March 24.
This schedule is contingent on favorable weather conditions. Motorists are advised to expect delays and use extreme caution in this area as workers will be present.
As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and “Know Before You Go!” by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.
TRAFFIC ALERT
COCKE COUNTY
KNOXVILLE – Motorists traveling on U.S. 25E (State Route 32) in Cocke County should be aware of upcoming road construction activities that will have an impact on traffic.
Beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 21, U.S. 25E (State Route 32) will be closed between Lehigh Road and Hilltop Drive as crews will be installing a pipe culvert beneath the roadway. This closure will end on or before 6 a.m. on Monday, March 24.
Signage will be in place to direct motorists to the detour route.
This schedule is contingent on favorable weather conditions. Motorists are advised to expect delays and use extreme caution in this area as workers will be present.
As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and “Know Before You Go!” by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.
#6 [2] Vols Defeat [15] Wofford, 77-62, in NCAA Tournament Opener
- Box Score (PDF)
- Season Stats
- VIDEO: Tennessee Postgame
- VIDEO: Wofford Postgame
- Highlights
- Photo Gallery
Game Recap: Men’s Basketball | March 20, 2025
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The second-seeded University of Tennessee men’s basketball team began its program-record seventh straight NCAA Tournament berth Thursday night with a wire-to-wire victory, 77-62, over No. 15-seeded Wofford at Rupp Arena.
Sixth-ranked Tennessee (28-7, 12-6 SEC) led for all but the first 13 seconds of the victory, claiming a spot in the Round of 32 for the fourth straight season. Fifth-year guard Chaz Lanier dropped 29 points, the third-most by a Volunteer in NCAA Tournament play, while senior guard Zakai Zeigler had a 12-point, 12-assist double-double and broke the school record for career assists in the triumph.
The Volunteers, midway through the first half, scored 12 straight points—seven came from Lanier—in 2:58 to claim a 22-8 advantage with 11:02 on the timer. The stretch came during a span of six straight made field goals.
Wofford (19-16, 10-8 SOCON), after a 3:55 scoreless drought, responded with back-to-back 3-pointers to make it an eight-point game just 65 ticks later, but Tennessee thrice stretched the margin back to 13. The Terriers got the margin down to eight twice more before the Volunteers took a nine-point edge 36-27, into the break behind 14 points from Lanier and a 5-0 margin in points off turnovers, despite the teams posting four apiece.
Just 4:27 into the second stanza, the Volunteers got the lead back to 14, but Wofford countered with a three-point play and a 3-pointer in 89 seconds to make it 48-40 with 13:33 to go. Tennessee regained control and built the cushion to a then-game-best 16, 61-45, with 10:35 left during a span in which it hit six consecutive field-goal attempts.
The Terriers soon made three shots in a row on their end to get it down to nine, but junior forward Felix Okpara threw down dunks on the next to possession to give Tennessee a 13-point margin, 68-55, with 7:08 to play. The victors went up by 17 with 1:58 to go and then by a game-high 18 with 41 ticks on the timer, after which Wofford hit a 3-pointer to close the scoring and make it a 15-point final margin.
Lanier’s 29 points, the most ever by a Volunteer in an NCAA Tournament win, came on an 11-of-22 field-goal clip to match his career best in makes. He shot 6-of-13 from long range to tie the most single-game 3-point makes in the NCAA Tournament in program history. The Nashville, Tenn., native added five rebounds, two steals, one assist and one block in the win.
Zeigler scored his 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the floor, including a 2-of-5 mark from deep, and a perfect 2-of-2 showing at the line. The 12 assists, his fifth-most as a collegian and third-highest total of 2024-25, tied for the second-most by a Volunteer in NCAA Tournament competition. The Long Island, N.Y., native, who committed zero turnovers in 37 minutes and notched two assists, is the sixth player in the last 50 seasons (1975-2025), per Elias Sports Bureau, with 12 points, 12 assists and no turnovers in an NCAA Tournament affair.
Senior guard Jahmai Mashack added nine points, a game-best seven rebounds and two steals in the triumph.
Jackson Sivills, playing in his home state, paced the Terriers with 15 points. Fellow senior guard Corey Tripp had 14, but Tennessee held him to 6-of-17 field-goal shooting. Sophomore forward Jeremy Lorenz registered 12 points and junior guard Justin Bailey scored 10, with both shooting 4-of-6 from the field, including 2-of-3 beyond the arc.
Both sides made double-digit 3-pointers—Wofford went 11-of-26 (42.3 percent) and Tennessee shot 10-of-28 (35.7 percent)—but the Volunteers had a plus-10 margin in points at the line. They shot 15-of-22 (68.2 percent) compared to the Terriers’ 5-of-9 (55.6 percent) ledger.
Tennessee, which shot 26-of-54 (48.1 percent) overall, also did not allow a single point on the fast break or via turnover, ending the night with 3-0 and 14-0 tallies, respectively.
The Volunteers will take on either seventh-seeded UCLA in the Round of 32, with tip-off at Rupp Arena set for Saturday at 9:40 p.m., live on TBS and truTV.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS POSTGAME NOTES
• Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes upped his career win total to 834, remaining tied with John Calipari for the ninth-most all-time (min. 10 years in Division I) and for the most among active coaches.
• Barnes also increased his career NCAA Tournament record to 31-28, good for the sixth-most victories of any active Division I head coach and the second-most in the SEC.
• This is the 17th time in 29 trips to the NCAA Tournament that Barnes has led his team to the Round of 32, including the sixth in seven appearances at Tennessee.
• The Volunteers improved to 29-27 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, including 25-25 in regulation, 17-8 in the first round, 1-1 in Kentucky, 1-0 in Lexington and 1-0 against Wofford.
• Tennessee is now 9-4 as a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, as well as 5-0 against No. 15 seeds, 17-4 versus double-digit seeds and 24-11 against lower seeds.
• The Volunteers played an NCAA Tournament game at a fellow conference member’s arena for the second time ever, joining a 93-88 overtime setback against Syracuse in Baton Rouge, La., on March 13, 1977.
• Tennessee now has a four-year streak of reaching the Round of 32 for the second time ever, joining a five-year stretch from 1978-79 to 1982-83.
• The Volunteers improved to 9-0 all-time against Wofford—its fourth-most wins against any school without a loss—with this the first meeting at a neutral site.
• Thursday’s victory marked Tennessee’s 100th over the current SoCon membership, as it now owns a 100-17 record.
• Barnes is now 26-1 in his career against current SoCon members—that is good for his second-most wins without multiple losses against any league—including 11-1 at Tennessee.
• Tennessee has reached the 28-win mark for the fourth time ever, including the second in Barnes’ tenure, with the 2024-25 campaign joining 2018-19 (31-6), 2009-10 (28-9) and 2007-08 (31-5).
• The Volunteers did not make a field goal for the final 4:47 of the first half and the first 45 seconds of the second, a total span of 5:32.
• Wofford committed its seventh foul of the second half just 6:46 into the frame, putting Tennessee in the bonus with 13:14 to play, and
• Tennessee has conceded 35 or fewer first-half points in 28 of its 35 contests thus far, including 29 or fewer on 16 occasions and 23 or fewer eight times.
• The Volunteers have held a halftime advantage in 23 of their 35 outings this season, including a margin of seven-plus points 14 times, double digits 11 times, 12-plus 10 times, 14-plus eight times, 20-plus four times and 23-plus thrice.
• The Volunteers have held a lead of 15-plus points in 20 of their 35 contests this season, including leading by 18-plus in 18 of them, 20-plus in 15, 26-plus in 11 and 32-plus in five.
• Twenty of Tennessee’s 28 wins are by double digits, with 18 by 12-plus points, nine by at least 20, four by at least 35 and two by 40-plus.
• The 12 assists for Zeigler upped his career mark to 726, moving him past Johnny Darden (715 from 1975-79) for the Tennessee career record and the third-most in SEC history.
• Zeigler tied the record on the first possession of game, just 13 seconds into the contest, hitting Mashack for a 3-pointer and then broke it with 17:01 on the first-half timer on a 3-pointer by Lanier.
• Zeigler’s 12 assists also moved his season total to 254, passing Kentucky’s Tyler Ulis (246 in 2015-16) for the second-most in a campaign in SEC history, behind only Ole Miss’ Sean Tuohy (260 in 1979-80).
• Zeigler’s two steals moved his career total to 247, passing LSU’s Torris Bright (245 from 1999-2003) for sole possession of the No. 10 spot on the SEC all-time leaderboard.
• Zeigler made his 135th appearance as a Volunteer, tying Kyle Alexander (2015-19) for seventh place in program history.
• The 37 minutes for Zeigler upped his career tally to 3,923, eclipsing Brandon Wharton (3,904 from 1995-99) for eighth-most in Tennessee history.
• Zeigler now owns two of the five double-digit assist performances by a Volunteer in NCAA tournament play, as he logged 10 on March 21, 2024, against Saint Peter’s.
• The 12 assists matched Johnny Darden’s total on March 13, 1977, against Syracuse for the second-most by a Tennessee player in the NCAA Tournament, trailing just the 16 by Bert Bertelkamp on March 8, 1980, against Furman.
• In both of Zeigler’s 10-assist NCAA Tournament showings, he also had 10-plus points, giving him the only two points/assists double-doubles ever by a Volunteer in the event.
• Zeigler amassed double-digit assists for the 14th time in his career, including the sixth in 2024-25, with this his fifth time—third this year—posting 12-plus.
• Zeigler now owns 13 double-doubles in his career, with 12 of them—seven more than any other Volunteer—featuring points and assists.
• Over the last 50 seasons (1975-2025), Zeigler is, per the Elias Sports Bureau, the sixth player to compile at least 12 points, 12 assists and zero turnovers in an NCAA Tournament game, joining the following individuals: Colorado’s McKinley Wright IV (March 20, 2021, versus Georgetown), UCLA’s Earl Watson (March 18, 2000, versus Maryland), Bradley’s Jim Les (March 13, 1986, versus UTEP), Indiana’s Isiah Thomas (March 14, 1981, versus Maryland) and Missouri’s Larry Drew (March 8, 1980, versus Notre Dame).
• Across those 50 years, Zeigler is, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the 10th player with even 12 assists and zero turnovers, regardless of point total, in an NCAA Tournament affair.
• Zeigler is the only SEC player in the last 20 years (2005-25) with 12 assists, 10 points and no turnovers in a single game.
• In those same 20 seasons, Zeigler now has two outings with 12-plus assists and zero turnovers, while every other SEC player combined has three, with the list as follows: Kentucky’s Sahvir Wheeler (Nov. 12, 2021, versus Robert Morris), Tennessee’s Lamonte’ Turner (Nov. 12, 2019, versus Murray State), Kentucky’s Rajon Rondo (Feb. 22, 2006, versus Ole Miss).
• Zeigler is the only player in 2024-25 with 12 points, 12 assists and zero turnovers in a regulation game against a Division I opponent, with the last instance recorded one season ago by Gonzaga’s Ryan Nembhard on March 11, 2024, versus San Francisco in Paradise, Nev.
• Zeigler and Mashack, who already own the school’s four-year wins record, recorded their 107th victory at Tennessee, eclipsing four-and-a-half-year competitor Santiago Vescovi (106) for sole possession of fourth place on the program’s overall wins list.
• Lanier’s six 3-point makes pushed his season total to 116, moving him up to No. 10 on the SEC single-season leaderboard.
• The 116 made 3-pointers for Lanier this season also put him second on Tennessee’s single-season list, as he eclipsed Chris Lofton (114 in 2005-06).
• The 29 points by Lanier eclipsed the 28 by Reggie Johnson on March 6, 1980, against Furman for the most by a Volunteer in an NCAA Tournament win.
• The only Tennessee players to score greater than 29 points in an NCAA Tournament contest are Dalton Knecht (37 on March 31, 2024, versus Purdue) and Ernie Grunfeld (36 on March 13, 1976, versus VMI).
• Lanier registered the 29th 20-point performance of his career, including the 14th in his lone season as a Volunteer, as well as reached 25 points for the 14th time, including the sixth in 2024-25.
• The 29 points for Lanier marked his second-highest total of the season, trailing only the 30 he scored Feb. 22 at Texas A&M.
• The 11 made field goals for Lanier set a new season high—he made 10 on three occasions—and matched his career best, set twice during his North Florida tenure, as he went 11-of-18 both and Jan. 25, 2024, at Bellarmine and Feb. 8, 2024, against North Alabama.
• Lanier’s 11 field goals also tied for the most by a Volunteer this season, equaling the mark set Nov. 17, 2024, by Miličić against Austin Peay.
• Lanier connected on six 3-pointers for the seventh time in his career, including the fifth during his lone year at Tennessee.
• Okpara’s blocked shot upped his 2024-25 tally to 60, matching Doug Roth (60 in 1988-89) for sixth place on Tennessee’s single-season list and becoming the seventh Volunteer to reach 60 in a campaign.
• Sophomore forward Cade Phillips grabbed five rebounds in the victory, his 11th time reaching that mark as a Volunteer, all of which are during the 2024-25 campaign.
• Phillips amassed a 6-of-8 ledger from the free-throw line, setting career highs in both makes and attempts.
• Phillips’ prior high in made free throws with five against Miami on Dec. 10, 2024, in New York, while his previous best in attempts was six, both against the Hurricanes and Dec. 31 versus Norfolk State.
• Freshman guard Bishop Boswell’s layup with 4:47 on the first-half clock marked his third field-goal as a Volunteer, his first points since Dec. 3, 2024, versus Syracuse and his first field goal since Nov. 21, 2024, against Virginia in Nassau, Bahamas.
• The following Volunteers made their NCAA Tournament debuts: Boswell, Lanier, Okpara, fifth-year guard Darlinstone Dubar, freshman guard Campbell Duncan, senior forward Igor Miličić Jr., and freshman guard Gavin Paull.
Late-Inning Comeback Bid Falls Short in Series Opener at #10/12 Alabama
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 1/1 Tennessee came up just short in Thursday night’s series opener at No. 10/12 Alabama, falling 6-5 at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
It was a game of runs as the Volunteers (20-2, 3-1 SEC) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead with a pair of runs in the first and another in the second – highlighted by an Andrew Fischer two-run blast in the top of the first inning – before the Crimson Tide responded with six unanswered runs in the second and third innings.
Alabama (22-1, 4-0 SEC) pounced for five runs in the bottom of the second inning to take the lead. A leadoff single followed by a hit batsman and an error loaded the bases before back-to-back walks and a bases-clearing double by star shortstop Justin Lebron resulted in a 5-3 advantage.
The Tide tacked on another run in the third on an RBI groundout to increase its lead to three after three innings of action.
Neither side was able to score in the middle three innings as both starting pitchers settled in after rocky starts.
Right fielder Bryce Fowler robbed Reese Chapman of a would-be solo home run in the sixth with an impressive leaping grab at the wall, a play that would prove to be pivotal later in the contest.
Liam Doyle suffered his first loss of the season after surrendering six runs (five earned) on six hits and four walks. The junior lefthander did well to battle through his early-game struggles to provide the Big Orange with six important innings to help preserve the bullpen and finished with nine strikeouts on the night.
Late Comeback Comes Up Just Short
Tennessee fought back to cut its deficit to one with a pair of runs in the seventh inning, recording four singles in the frame, including an RBI knock by Hunter Ensley before a sacrifice fly from Fischer to drive in his third run of the game.
The first two batters of the eighth inning reached base but a lineout double play and a strikeout ended the threat. The Vols also had the tying run aboard in the ninth after Jay Abernathy reached base with his third hit of the night, but he was caught stealing before a flyout to right field secured the sixth save of the year for Crimson Tide closer Carson Ozmer.
Loy Looks Good Again
Dylan Loy looked good once again in relief, tossing two scoreless innings to keep UT within striking distance. The sophomore lefty retired all six batters he faced after tossing 3.1 shutout frames in his previous outing against Florida last Sunday.
Up Next
The Vols will look to even the series on Friday night when the two teams meet for game two. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network+ and ESPN app.
Hoops Central: #6 [2] Tennessee vs. [7] UCLA
LEXINGTON, Ky. – After defeating 15th-seeded Wofford in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, the sixth-ranked, second-seeded Tennessee men’s basketball team prepares for a second round bout versus UCLA Saturday night at Rupp Arena. Tipoff is slated for 9:40 p.m. ET.
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GAMEDAY TIMES & BROADCAST INFO
- Opponent: UCLA Bruins
- Tipoff: Saturday, March 22 | 9:40 p.m. ET
- Venue: Rupp Arena
- Watch Online: TBS/truTV
- Online: Listen Live
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THE LATEST FROM THE VOLS
Mashack, Zeigler Selected as Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Finalists#6 [2] Vols Defeat [15] Wofford, 77-62, in NCAA Tournament OpenerGainey Named to ABIS Black Coaches WatchlistZeigler Collects USBWA Third Team All-America RecognitionLanier, Zeigler Voted NABC Third Team All-Americans
Fans can catch Saturday’s game between the Volunteers (28-7) and Bruins (22-10) on TBS/truTV. Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Jim Jackson (analyst) and Allie LaForce (reporter) will have the call.
Fans can also listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear Bob Kesling and Bert Bertelkamp describing the action.
In its most recent action, Tennessee began its program-record seventh straight NCAA Tournament berth Thursday night with a wire-to-wire victory, 77-62, over No. 15-seeded Wofford at Rupp Arena.
UT led for all but the first 13 seconds of the victory, securing a spot in the Round of 32 for the fourth straight season. Fifth-year guard Chaz Lanier dropped 29 points, the third-most by a Volunteer in NCAA Tournament play, while senior guard Zakai Zeigler had a 12-point, 12-assist double-double and broke the school record for career assists in the triumph
THE MATCHUP
• The only prior matchup came on 1/30/77, when #8 UCLA defeated #7 Tennessee, 103-89, in Atlanta.
• Tennessee owns a 35-44 all-time record against the current Big Ten membership. That includes a 66- 64 road win on 12/14/24 at Illinois on a Jordan Gainey buzzer-beater.
• Rick Barnes is 41-40 versus the current Big Ten members, including 8-8 at Tennessee with wins over seven different teams.
• Barnes was 3-1 against UCLA at Texas: a 63-61 road win on 12/2/07, a 68-64 home win on 12/4/08, a 69-59 road win on a 12/3/11 and a 65-63 home loss on 12/8/12.
• The lone prior meeting between Mick Cronin and Rick Barnes came on 3/16/12 in the NCAA Round of 64, a 65-59 Cincinnati win over Texas in Nashville, Tenn.
• UT beat Cronin-led Murray State, 64-53, on 11/30/05 in Nashville.
• UCLA, making its fourth NCAA Round of 32 appearance in the last five years, tied for fourth in its first season in the Big Ten.
• Junior forward Tyler Bilodeau, a Third Team All-Big Ten choice, paces the Bruins with 13.5 ppg.
NEWS & NOTES
• Jahmai Mashack is from Fontana, Calif., just 66 miles east of UCLA. This is his second time facing a home-state school while at UT. The Volunteers defeated USC, 73- 66 (OT), in the Battle 4 Atlantis semifinals on 11/24/22 in Paradise Island, Bahamas, en route to winning the title.
• In the victory over Wofford, Zakai Zeigler became, per Elias Sports Bureau, the sixth player in the last 50 years (1975-2025) with 12 points, 12 assists and no turnovers in NCAA Tournament play, joining Colorado’s McKinley Wright IV (2021), UCLA’s Earl Watson (2000), Bradley’s Jim Les (1986), Indiana’s Isiah Thomas (1981) and Missouri’s Larry Drew (1980).
• Chaz Lanier scored 29 points in his NCAA Tournament debut, good for the third-most ever by a Volunteer in the event and the most in a win. His six 3-pointers tied UT’s single-game record in NCAA Tournament action.
• Lanier (116) is now just two made 3-pointers shy of the Tennessee single-season record of 118, set in 2007-08 by Chris Lofton.
• The Vols are 29-27 all-time in NCAA Tournament play, including 10-6 under Rick Barnes, who has the most such wins in program history. More on Pages 10-11.
• Tennessee is looking to reach the NCAA Sweet 16 for the third straight year. It would be the first such instance in program history.
• With 834 wins, Rick Barnes is tied with John Calipari for ninth all- time (min. 10 years in DI) and for the most among active coaches.
• Zakai Zeigler’s 254 assists, a UT single-season best, are six shy of the SEC record (260 by Sean Tuohy 1979-80). His 726 career assists are a program record and the third-most in SEC history.
• Tennessee’s 199 wins over the last eight seasons (2017-25) rank co-sixth in DI, alongside Auburn, Liberty and Saint Mary’s. Only Gonzaga (239), Houston (239), Duke (216), Kansas (212) and Purdue (205) own more.
• The Vols, who reached 25 regular season victories for the third time, are in seeking their third 29-win campaign. They went 31-6 in 2018- 19 and 31-5 in 2007-08.
ALL-SEC ACCOLADES
• Zakai Zeigler and Chaz Lanier both won individual SEC awards from the league’s head coaches. Zeigler earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year plaudits for the second straight season, while Lanier claimed the inaugural SEC Newcomer of the Year honor.
• The league’s coaches tabbed Zeigler a First Team All-SEC competitor and Lanier a Second Team All- SEC designee. Zeigler is the 14th player in program history with at least three All-SEC nods that include two first-team choices. The others are Dale Ellis, Ernie Grunfeld, Allan Houston, Gilbert Huffman, Reggie Johnson, Bill Justus, Bernard King, Len Kosmalski, Chris Lofton, Dyron Nix, Paul “Lefty” Walther, Tony White and Ron Widby.
• Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack both made the cut for the coaches’ SEC All-Defensive Team. This is just the ninth season—10th instance—with multiple players from the same team receiving SEC All-Defensive Team honors, including the second in a row for UT.
• Meanwhile, in the Associated Press voting, Lanier collected First Team All-SEC distinction and Zeigler garnered Second Team All-SEC status.
A PAIR OF ALL-AMERICANS
• Chaz Lanier and Zakai Zeigler both earned The Sporting News Third Team All-America and NABC Third Team All-America plaudits. No other school put multiple players on either list.
• Zeigler was also tabbed an AP Third Team All- American and a USBWA Third Team All-American, while Lanier picked up AP All-America Honorable Mention recognition.
• Ernie Grunfeld and Bernard King form the only other same-season All-American tandem in Tennessee history. They each earned All-America plaudits in both 1975-76 and 1976-77.
• Lanier and Zeigler are also the lone teammate pair on the Wooden Award Top 15 National Ballot, from which the Wooden All-Americans and Wooden Award winner will be selected.
• The guards also form one of just three teammate tandems to make the 30-man Lute Olson Award finalist list.
RACKING UP RANKED VICTORIES
• TOP 25: In the past four years (2021-25), Tennessee’s 29 AP top-25 wins lead DI. Only Alabama (closest SEC team with 26), Connecticut (26), Kansas (26), Iowa State (25) and Purdue (23) are within seven.
• TOP 20: Tennessee is first in the nation with 25 AP top-20 triumphs over that span. Only Connecticut (24), Kansas (22) and Alabama (closest SEC team with 21) are even within five.
• TOP 15: The Volunteers lead DI with 22 AP top-15 decisions over those four years. Kansas (20) and Alabama (closest SEC team with 18) are the only schools even within five.
• TOP 10: Since 2021-22, Tennessee owns 12 AP top-10 wins, co-first nationally, alongside Connecticut (12), Iowa State (12) and Kansas (12). The only school within one is Kentucky (closest SEC team with 11). A full list of the 12 wins is on Page 12 (left sidebar).
• TOP FIVE: In that same four-year span, UT has seven AP top-five victories, the most in the country. Only four other schools have even five: Alabama (six), Arizona (six), Florida (five) and Iowa State (five).
• TOP THREE: The Vols have four AP top-three wins in those four years, matching Alabama (four), Arizona (four) and Florida (four) for the DI lead.
HIGH-CALIBER COMPANY
• Tennessee and Kansas are the only two schools to earn an AP top-five ranking in each of the last four seasons (2021-25). Only two others, Arizona and Purdue, entered 2024-25 with a three-year streak.
• The Volunteers are one of only four teams to reach the AP top six in each of the past five seasons, alongside Alabama, Houston and Kansas.
• UT is one of just five programs to reach the AP top six in at least six of the last seven seasons (2018- 25), alongside Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas and Kentucky. Those are also the only five schools to enter the AP top five in at least five different years in that stretch.
• The Vols are among only eight teams to reach the No. 1 spot in the AP Poll in at least two of the last seven seasons (2018-25), joining Auburn, Baylor, Duke, Gonzaga, Houston, Kansas and Purdue.
• Over that same seven-year stretch (2018-25), UT is also one of seven teams to claim an AP top-two position in at least three seasons, alongside Baylor, Connecticut, Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas and Purdue.
• UT is one of seven schools with an AP top-20 ranking in each of the last eight years (2017-25), alongside Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State and North Carolina. Just two others—Houston and Purdue—have even been AP top-25 each season.
• Additionally, over the last three years (2022-25), the Vols are one of just six teams to reach the AP top two in multiple seasons, joining Alabama, Connecticut, Duke, Kansas and Purdue.
QUITE THE CAMPAIGN
• Tennessee’s nine AP top-25 wins this season are its most ever, eclipsing the seven it had in both 2023- 24 and 2021-22. It has tallied at least seven in three of the last four years after never before doing so.
• UT has seven AP top-15 wins this year, passing 2021- 22 (six) for the most in school history. The Vols had five in 2022-23, giving them five-plus in three of the last four years after never before hitting that mark.
• This is the third time in program history, including the second in Rick Barnes‘ tenure, the Vols have logged four AP top-seven (or even AP top-10) victories in a single season, joining 2021-22 and 1976-77.
• Tennessee has 25-plus wins in a season for the ninth time, including the sixth under Rick Barnes (all in the last eight years) and the fourth in a row. It reached 25 victories in the regular season for the third time, joining 2018-19 (27-4) and 2007-08 (28-3).
• The Volunteers own 28-plus wins for the fourth time (second under Barnes). They went 31-6 in 2018-19, 28-9 in 2009-10 and 31-5 in 2007-08.
TOP-TIER TRIUMPHS
• Tennessee is 43-42 (.506) against AP top-25 foes under Rick Barnes, including 27-15 (.643) in its past 42 such games (since 1/22/22).
• The Volunteers are 37-34 (.521) versus AP top-20 teams in Barnes’ tenure, including 23-11 (.676) in their last 34 such affairs (since 1/22/22).
• UT is 29-27 (.518) against AP top-15 teams in the Barnes era, including 22-10 (.688) in its last 32 such games (since 12/22/21).
• The Vols own a 17-16 (.515) record versus AP top-10 foes under Barnes, including a 15-10 (.600) mark in their last 25 such contests (since 3/2/19) and a 12-7 (.632) tally in their last 19 (since 12/22/21).
• UT is 11-10 (.524) against AP top-five foes in Barnes’ tenure, including 7-5 (.583) in its last 12 such affairs (since 2/15/22). It is 9-3 (.750) versus AP top-five SEC teams, including 8-2 (.800) in its last 10 such outings (since 3/2/19).
STRONG IN THE STANDINGS
• Tennessee finished fourth in the SEC this season. It marked the program’s seventh top-four finish in the last eight years, including its fifth in a row.
• The Volunteers are the only team in the league to place top-four each of the past five seasons. Only three others have done it multiple times: Alabama (four), Auburn (three) and Kentucky (three).
• UT is also the only school to place top-four in seven of the last eight campaigns. Just three others have done it even four times: Auburn (six), Kentucky (six) and Alabama (four).
SENSATIONAL SIX
• Tennessee, Drake, Duke, Gonzaga, Houston and Saint Mary’s are the only schools with 25-plus wins each of the past four seasons (2021-22 to 2024-25).
• Only two others, Arizona and Purdue, entered 2024- 25 with a three-year streak and can still join that list.
TENNESSEE TORCHBEARER
• On 3/7/25, Chancellor Donde Plowman surpised Jahmai Mashack before a team film session by naming him a Torchbearer, which is the highest student honor conferred by the University of Tennessee. He was one of just 10 individuals to receive the prestigious distinction in 2025.
• Mashack is the fourth men’s basketball to win the award, joining Carl Langschmidt (1953), Byrl Logan (1939) and Charles Lucas (1931).
• Mashack and swimmer Griffin Hadley, a fellow 2025 winner, are the first male non-football student- athletes to receive the honor in 72 years, dating to Langschmidt. The only other male student-athletes to garner it during that time are football standouts Joshua Dobbs (2016) and Trey Smith (2020).
• The award is given for academic achievement and outstanding commitment to others as demonstrated by the student’s various activities and significant contributions to the university and the community.
#1/1 Vols Even Series with Gritty Win Over #10/12 Tide
Read Online | Box Score (PDF) | Download Postgame Media
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 1/1 Tennessee gutted out a hard-fought 10-7 victory on Friday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium to even its series with No. 10/12 Alabama.
For the second straight game, the Big Orange jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the first and two more in the second to chase Crimson Tide starter Riley Quick, who had allowed just three runs total this season entering the night, after just two innings.
The first three batters of the game all reached base and came around to score for the Vols in their three-run first inning. Andrew Fischer made it four straight batters to reach base with an RBI single before Reese Chapman drove in the final run of the frame with an RBI fielder’s choice.
A pair of RBI singles by Jay Abernathy and Hunter Ensley in the second inning increased the UT lead to 5-0 in the early going before Alabama answered with its first two runs of the game in the bottom of the third. Ensley led the Vols with his third straight multi-hit effort, finishing 3-for-4 with two runs, two RBIs and three stolen bases.
Tennessee (21-2, 4-1 SEC) never trailed in the game but was never able to build a real comfortable lead either, as the Tide continued to battle throughout the night.
After the two sides traded runs in the seventh, the Vols put together an impressive two-out rally in the eighth to score four runs and build their largest lead of the game at 10-4.
After a strikeout and a flyout to start the inning. nine-hole hitter Ariel Antigua got the rally started with an infield single before Curley blasted a two-run homer to left center for his seventh long ball of the year.
Following Curley’s homer, a pair of walks and a hit batter loaded the bases before Dalton Bargo came through with his second RBI hit of the game, lacing a single into center field to plate two more runs and extend the UT lead to six.
Despite the big inning by the Vols, the Crimson Tide (22-2, 4-1 SEC) continued to fight, answering with a run in the bottom of the eight before scoring two more in the bottom of the ninth and bringing the tying run to the plate with one out.
The duo of Andrew Behnke and Tanner Franklin was able to end the comeback bid with a pair of big outs to close out the game and secure Tennessee’s first road win of the year.
Bargo Big Off the Bench
Bargo finished the night 2-for-2 with three RBIs after entering the game as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning. His first knock was a two-out double to score Fischer from first base.
Two Out Hitting the Difference
Two-out hitting was pivotal for the Big Orange on Friday night, as they scored seven of their 10 runs – including all seven after the first inning – with two away. UT was 7-for-15 at the plate with two outs as a team and 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position, a stark difference from Thursday’s game one loss.
Notable Performances on the Mound
Marcus Phillips provided the Vols with another solid start, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits while striking out three over 4.2 innings of work.
Dylan Loy picked up his team-leading fourth win of the year after getting Tennessee out of a big jam in the bottom of the fifth inning, striking out Brennan Norton to strand the bases loaded, keeping the Vols lead intact.
Nate Snead allowed four runs but battled to provide UT with 3.1 important innings of relief before handing the ball off to Behnke and Franklin in the ninth. Franklin struck out Will Plattner with runners on first and second to end the game and earn his second save of the season.
Up Next
The Vols and Tide will meet at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday in a series-deciding rubber game that will be streamed on the SEC Network+ and ESPN app.
Lady Vol Three-Point Barrage Sinks USF, 101-66, In NCAA First Round
Read Online | Box Score (PDF) | Video Downloads | Photo Download | Watch Press Conference | Watch Highlights | Press Conference Transcript
COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 20 Tennessee opened its 43rd-straight NCAA appearance in dominant fashion on Friday night, hitting 16 three-pointers and smashing the SEC season record for treys during a 101-66 triumph in NCAA First Round play at the Schottenstein Center.
The Lady Vols (23-9), who are seeded fifth in the Birmingham 3 Regional, came in needing three buckets beyond the arc to surpass the previous mark of 314 by Arkansas in 2019-20 and took care of that with four alone in the first quarter. Jewel Spear’s deep ball with 5:13 to go was the record-breaker. UT’s 16 threes, meanwhile, was a program NCAA Tournament record, ranked second in all games in school history and tied for second most in NCAA Women’s Tournament history.
Redshirt sophomore guard Talaysia Cooper, one of three Lady Vols to hit three treys and one of eight UT players to connect from beyond the arc, led her team with 20 points, six rebounds and two steals. Samara Spencer hit a trio of three-pointers to finish with 15 points and five assists, while Zee Spearman matched Spencer’s total from long range and netted 13 points, and Spear added 11.
USF (23-11) was paced by Sammie Puisis, who knocked down five threes and finished with 28 points. L’or Mputu contributed 12, as her team was unable to keep pace with a deep Lady Vols squad that featured a 54-3 bench points advantage. The Bulls also suffered 24 turnovers and were outscored on points off turnovers by the Lady Vols, 36-10.
Spencer opened the game with a three-pointer just 10 seconds in, but South Florida responded with a 7-0 flurry to seize a 7-3 lead by the 8:18 mark. A 13-6 response by the Lady Vols, fueled by threes from Tess Darby and Spear, though, sent them into the media timeout with a 16-13 advantage. Back-to-back layups by Cooper and Alyssa Latham lifted UT to its biggest lead, 20-15, with 3:57 to go, but USF evened things at 20 by the 2:50 mark on a Puisis three contributing to her 15 first-quarter points. A Cooper three and a Kaniya Boyd layup helped close out the opening stanza with a 26-25 lead, as UT scored 12 of its points off 10 Bulls turnovers.
Tennessee exploded to a 15-4 start at the outset of the second period, with Spearman hitting a pair of threes during that spree and then a Spencer layup and Cooper trey extending the lead to 12, 41-29, with 7:08 remaining and forcing a Bulls timeout. The Lady Vols twice widened the gap to 13, getting a Cooper free throw to make it 42-29 with 6:37 to go and then a Spearman trey to increase it to 45-32 as the teams went to a media timeout with 4:49 to go. After allowing a Carla Brito tip-in, Tennessee scored the next 10 points to close out the half, with Cooper and Spencer threes running UT’s total of deep balls to 10 in the first half and sending their team into the locker room on top by 21, 55-34.
The Lady Vols opened the second half with a layup from Cooper and a jumper by Spencer to increase the margin to 25, 59-34, with 8:43 remaining in the third quarter. The teams exchanged baskets, with UT taking a 67-46 advantage into the 4:55 media break. A 7-0 USF run, including a bucket right before that timeout, enabled the Bulls to whittle the deficit to 16, 67-51, by the 4:43 mark, but a Spencer three and a Latham steal and layup pushed the margin back to 21, 72-51, forcing South Florida to ask for time with 2:24 left in the period. A three by Spear, a Cooper layup off an inbound pass and a Latham driving layup helped their team head into the final frame with a 79-56 lead.
The Big Orange began the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run and rode a 15-7 burst into the 4:11 media timeout, with a pair of threes by Darby pushing the lead to 94-63 by the 4:11 media timeout. As Tennessee closed out the game, a Sara Puckett three-pointer and a turnaround jumper in the paint rounded out the scoring and pushed the Big Orange past 100 points.
UP NEXT: Tennessee advances to the NCAA Second Round and will face No. 4 seed and No. 15/13-ranked Ohio State (26-6) on Sunday. Tip time and TV designation will be announced later. The contest also will be available on Lady Vol Network radio stations statewide and via audio stream on UTSports.com.
SIXTEEN TREYS AGAINST THE BULLS: The Lady Vols drained 16 three-pointers versus South Florida. It marked a school-best 17th time that UT has made 10 or more treys in a single game this season. The 16 tied for the second most in school history, the best by the Lady Vols in an NCAA Tournament game and tied for second best of any team in NCAA Tournament history.
SINKING THE LONG BALL INTO HISTORY: After hitting 16 deep balls vs. USF, Tennessee now has made 328 three-pointers this season, breaking the SEC record of 314 set by Arkansas during the 2019-20 campaign. Tennessee notched its highest three-point game against N.C. Central on Dec. 14, 2024, draining an NCAA, SEC and school-record 30 treys.
A RECORD-SETTING 100-POINT AFFAIR: The Lady Vols scored 100 points for the seventh time in 2024-25, tying the program record for most trips above the century mark in a season with the 1987-88 squad. That gives the program 94 all-time scoring efforts of 100 or more points through the USF contest.
SUCCESS IN THE BIG DANCE: Tennessee made its 43rd straight appearance in the NCAA First/Second Rounds, and it now owns a 65-6 record during games played in those rounds. The Lady Vols improved to 35-2 all-time in the NCAA First Round.
MISCUE MADNESS: The Lady Vols forced the Bulls to turn the ball over 24 times, making them the 20th team this season to commit at least 20 miscues. UT used that to build a 36-10 points-off-turnovers differential vs. USF.
17TH NEW STARTING LINEUP: Tennessee crafted its 17th different starting lineup of the season on Friday, with Jewel Spear, Samara Spencer, Tess Darby, Ruby Whitehorn and Jillian Hollingshead opening the contest against the Bulls. Ten different players have been in the starting lineup for the Big Orange this season.
THP: 63-Year-Old Injured, Facing Charges after Crashing Dump Truck into Vehicles in Jefferson Co.
Jefferson County, TN (WOKI) A dump truck driver is facing charges after blowing through a stop sign and crashing into a construction vehicle Friday morning on Highway 411 near the Chestnut Hill area of Jefferson County.
Officials with the Tennessee Highway Patrol say 63-year-old Christopher Moore was traveling southbound on 411 near State Highway 92 just after 7:00 a.m. when he failed to stop at a stop sign, crossed State Highway 92 and went through a road construction barrier into a construction zone, crashing into the front end of a road grader.
Moore was injured in the crash and taken by helicopter to the hospital.
He is facing charges including driving without a license and failure to obey a traffic control device.
Saturday ‘Real ID’ Appointments Now Available at Select Tennessee Driver Services Centers
The Department of Safety and Homeland Security announced today that it will begin offering additional Saturday appointments at 14 Driver Services Centers across the state for current Tennessee credential holders who want to get a REAL ID.
Saturday appointments will begin at 13 participating Driver Services Centers starting this Saturday, March 22. The Savannah Driver Services Center will offer Saturday appointments starting March 29. Saturday appointments will continue through the May 7th REAL ID implementation date.
Participating Middle Tennessee Service Centers
- Clarksville Driver Services Center – 220 West Dunbar Cave Road
- Columbia Driver Services Center – 1701 Hampshire Pike
- Cookeville Driver Services Center – 4600 South Jefferson Ave.
- Nashville/Hickory Hollow Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 5216 Hickory Hollow Pkwy.
Participating West Tennessee Service Centers
- Bartlett Express Services Center – 6340 Summer Ave.
- Jackson Driver Services Center – 100 Benchmark Circle
- Memphis/East Shelby Drive Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 3200 East Shelby Drive
- Oakland Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 160 Beau Tisdale Drive
- Savannah Driver Services Center – 1016 Pickwick St. *beginning March 29
Participating East Tennessee Service Centers
- Chattanooga/Bonny Oaks Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 6502 Bonny Oaks Drive
- Johnson City Driver Services Center – 4717 Lake Park Drive
- Knoxville/Strawberry Plains Driver Services Center – 7320 Region Lane
- Morristown County Driver Services Center – 1551 East Morris Boulevard, Suite 2
- Oak Ridge Driver Services Center – 475 Oak Ridge Turnpike
To take advantage of the new expanded Saturday appointments, applicants must already have a valid Tennessee driver license or identification card. REAL ID applicants who do not currently hold a valid Tennessee credential will be served during regular, Monday to Friday hours.
Saturday hours are available by appointment only. Applicants without a REAL ID appointment will not be served during the new Saturday hours. Schedule your REAL ID appointment now at tnrealid.gov.
REAL ID applicants must bring proof of U.S. citizenship or legal presence, proof of their Social Security Number, and two proofs of Tennessee residency. If your name has changed, you must also bring certified legal documents supporting the name change(s). This could include marriage licenses, divorce decrees, etc. All documents must be original or certified copies. Photocopies are not accepted.
The TDOSHS encourages all applicants to have their REAL ID required documents pre-approved online. Pre-approved documents can save you in-person processing time at the Driver Services Center and may eliminate repeat trips. A complete list of accepted documents and the pre-approval portal are available at tnrealid.gov.
For more information about Tennessee REAL ID, visit tnrealid.gov.
TN Attorney General Warns Against Home Improvement Fraud
Knoxville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) Experts say home improvement projects pick up in the spring, but so do scams.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti says if you’re considering hiring a contractor, you want to watch out for fraudulent contractors.
“Home improvement scams top the list of consumer complaints received by our Division of Consumer Affairs,” Skrmetti said. “If you’re planning to renovate this spring, make sure your contractor really is licensed and bonded—don’t take their word for it. Do your due diligence before you trust anyone with your money.”
The Board of Licensing Contractors got 884 complaints in 2024 and handed out more than $990,000 in civil penalties from nearly 300 of those complaints; they suggest doing your own research before hiring a contractor to include checking the status of a contractor’s or a businesses’ license through Verify.tn.gov.
The office warned of some red flags to watch out for: door-to-door sales, high-pressure sales tactics like short-time deals and demanding full payment up front.
To file a complaint about the license of a contractor or home improvement company, you can do so on the board’s website.
To file a complaint about a deceptive business practice, you can do so with the Division of Consumer Affairs.
Sheriff’s Office Charges Juvenile with Rape of Child in Blount County
Maryville, TN (WOKI) A teen in Blount County has been arrested and charged with raping a child.
Officials with the Blount County Sheriff’s Office say an investigation this week confirmed that a 4-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted by a 14-year-old boy while she was attending an in-home daycare in Blount County.
The teen has been charged with two counts of aggravated rape of a child by delinquent and is currently being held at the Blount County Juvenile facility pending a hearing in Blount County Juvenile Court.
According to the sheriff’s office, investigators are working a parallel investigation with DCS into the incident and are in the process of trying to identify and confirm other possible victims.
BCSO says the daycare owner has voluntarily closed her business and the investigation is ongoing at this time.
TDOT with a Construction Message Which will Affect Motorists in Knox and Cocke Counties
TRAFFIC ALERT
KNOX COUNTY
KNOXVILLE – Motorists traveling on I-40 West in Knox County should be aware of upcoming road construction activities that will have a temporary impact on traffic.
Beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 21, traffic on the exit ramp from I-40 West to Watt Road (Exit 369) will be shifted to the inside lane. In addition, traffic on the on-ramp from Watt Road (Exit 369) to I-40 West will be shifted to the inside shoulder.
These traffic shifts will each be complete by 6 a.m. on Monday, March 24.
This schedule is contingent on favorable weather conditions. Motorists are advised to expect delays and use extreme caution in this area as workers will be present.
As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and “Know Before You Go!” by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.
TRAFFIC ALERT
COCKE COUNTY
KNOXVILLE – Motorists traveling on U.S. 25E (State Route 32) in Cocke County should be aware of upcoming road construction activities that will have an impact on traffic.
Beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 21, U.S. 25E (State Route 32) will be closed between Lehigh Road and Hilltop Drive as crews will be installing a pipe culvert beneath the roadway. This closure will end on or before 6 a.m. on Monday, March 24.
Signage will be in place to direct motorists to the detour route.
This schedule is contingent on favorable weather conditions. Motorists are advised to expect delays and use extreme caution in this area as workers will be present.
As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and “Know Before You Go!” by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.
#6 [2] Vols Defeat [15] Wofford, 77-62, in NCAA Tournament Opener
- Box Score (PDF)
- Season Stats
- VIDEO: Tennessee Postgame
- VIDEO: Wofford Postgame
- Highlights
- Photo Gallery
Game Recap: Men’s Basketball | March 20, 2025
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The second-seeded University of Tennessee men’s basketball team began its program-record seventh straight NCAA Tournament berth Thursday night with a wire-to-wire victory, 77-62, over No. 15-seeded Wofford at Rupp Arena.
Sixth-ranked Tennessee (28-7, 12-6 SEC) led for all but the first 13 seconds of the victory, claiming a spot in the Round of 32 for the fourth straight season. Fifth-year guard Chaz Lanier dropped 29 points, the third-most by a Volunteer in NCAA Tournament play, while senior guard Zakai Zeigler had a 12-point, 12-assist double-double and broke the school record for career assists in the triumph.
The Volunteers, midway through the first half, scored 12 straight points—seven came from Lanier—in 2:58 to claim a 22-8 advantage with 11:02 on the timer. The stretch came during a span of six straight made field goals.
Wofford (19-16, 10-8 SOCON), after a 3:55 scoreless drought, responded with back-to-back 3-pointers to make it an eight-point game just 65 ticks later, but Tennessee thrice stretched the margin back to 13. The Terriers got the margin down to eight twice more before the Volunteers took a nine-point edge 36-27, into the break behind 14 points from Lanier and a 5-0 margin in points off turnovers, despite the teams posting four apiece.
Just 4:27 into the second stanza, the Volunteers got the lead back to 14, but Wofford countered with a three-point play and a 3-pointer in 89 seconds to make it 48-40 with 13:33 to go. Tennessee regained control and built the cushion to a then-game-best 16, 61-45, with 10:35 left during a span in which it hit six consecutive field-goal attempts.
The Terriers soon made three shots in a row on their end to get it down to nine, but junior forward Felix Okpara threw down dunks on the next to possession to give Tennessee a 13-point margin, 68-55, with 7:08 to play. The victors went up by 17 with 1:58 to go and then by a game-high 18 with 41 ticks on the timer, after which Wofford hit a 3-pointer to close the scoring and make it a 15-point final margin.
Lanier’s 29 points, the most ever by a Volunteer in an NCAA Tournament win, came on an 11-of-22 field-goal clip to match his career best in makes. He shot 6-of-13 from long range to tie the most single-game 3-point makes in the NCAA Tournament in program history. The Nashville, Tenn., native added five rebounds, two steals, one assist and one block in the win.
Zeigler scored his 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the floor, including a 2-of-5 mark from deep, and a perfect 2-of-2 showing at the line. The 12 assists, his fifth-most as a collegian and third-highest total of 2024-25, tied for the second-most by a Volunteer in NCAA Tournament competition. The Long Island, N.Y., native, who committed zero turnovers in 37 minutes and notched two assists, is the sixth player in the last 50 seasons (1975-2025), per Elias Sports Bureau, with 12 points, 12 assists and no turnovers in an NCAA Tournament affair.
Senior guard Jahmai Mashack added nine points, a game-best seven rebounds and two steals in the triumph.
Jackson Sivills, playing in his home state, paced the Terriers with 15 points. Fellow senior guard Corey Tripp had 14, but Tennessee held him to 6-of-17 field-goal shooting. Sophomore forward Jeremy Lorenz registered 12 points and junior guard Justin Bailey scored 10, with both shooting 4-of-6 from the field, including 2-of-3 beyond the arc.
Both sides made double-digit 3-pointers—Wofford went 11-of-26 (42.3 percent) and Tennessee shot 10-of-28 (35.7 percent)—but the Volunteers had a plus-10 margin in points at the line. They shot 15-of-22 (68.2 percent) compared to the Terriers’ 5-of-9 (55.6 percent) ledger.
Tennessee, which shot 26-of-54 (48.1 percent) overall, also did not allow a single point on the fast break or via turnover, ending the night with 3-0 and 14-0 tallies, respectively.
The Volunteers will take on either seventh-seeded UCLA in the Round of 32, with tip-off at Rupp Arena set for Saturday at 9:40 p.m., live on TBS and truTV.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS POSTGAME NOTES
• Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes upped his career win total to 834, remaining tied with John Calipari for the ninth-most all-time (min. 10 years in Division I) and for the most among active coaches.
• Barnes also increased his career NCAA Tournament record to 31-28, good for the sixth-most victories of any active Division I head coach and the second-most in the SEC.
• This is the 17th time in 29 trips to the NCAA Tournament that Barnes has led his team to the Round of 32, including the sixth in seven appearances at Tennessee.
• The Volunteers improved to 29-27 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, including 25-25 in regulation, 17-8 in the first round, 1-1 in Kentucky, 1-0 in Lexington and 1-0 against Wofford.
• Tennessee is now 9-4 as a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, as well as 5-0 against No. 15 seeds, 17-4 versus double-digit seeds and 24-11 against lower seeds.
• The Volunteers played an NCAA Tournament game at a fellow conference member’s arena for the second time ever, joining a 93-88 overtime setback against Syracuse in Baton Rouge, La., on March 13, 1977.
• Tennessee now has a four-year streak of reaching the Round of 32 for the second time ever, joining a five-year stretch from 1978-79 to 1982-83.
• The Volunteers improved to 9-0 all-time against Wofford—its fourth-most wins against any school without a loss—with this the first meeting at a neutral site.
• Thursday’s victory marked Tennessee’s 100th over the current SoCon membership, as it now owns a 100-17 record.
• Barnes is now 26-1 in his career against current SoCon members—that is good for his second-most wins without multiple losses against any league—including 11-1 at Tennessee.
• Tennessee has reached the 28-win mark for the fourth time ever, including the second in Barnes’ tenure, with the 2024-25 campaign joining 2018-19 (31-6), 2009-10 (28-9) and 2007-08 (31-5).
• The Volunteers did not make a field goal for the final 4:47 of the first half and the first 45 seconds of the second, a total span of 5:32.
• Wofford committed its seventh foul of the second half just 6:46 into the frame, putting Tennessee in the bonus with 13:14 to play, and
• Tennessee has conceded 35 or fewer first-half points in 28 of its 35 contests thus far, including 29 or fewer on 16 occasions and 23 or fewer eight times.
• The Volunteers have held a halftime advantage in 23 of their 35 outings this season, including a margin of seven-plus points 14 times, double digits 11 times, 12-plus 10 times, 14-plus eight times, 20-plus four times and 23-plus thrice.
• The Volunteers have held a lead of 15-plus points in 20 of their 35 contests this season, including leading by 18-plus in 18 of them, 20-plus in 15, 26-plus in 11 and 32-plus in five.
• Twenty of Tennessee’s 28 wins are by double digits, with 18 by 12-plus points, nine by at least 20, four by at least 35 and two by 40-plus.
• The 12 assists for Zeigler upped his career mark to 726, moving him past Johnny Darden (715 from 1975-79) for the Tennessee career record and the third-most in SEC history.
• Zeigler tied the record on the first possession of game, just 13 seconds into the contest, hitting Mashack for a 3-pointer and then broke it with 17:01 on the first-half timer on a 3-pointer by Lanier.
• Zeigler’s 12 assists also moved his season total to 254, passing Kentucky’s Tyler Ulis (246 in 2015-16) for the second-most in a campaign in SEC history, behind only Ole Miss’ Sean Tuohy (260 in 1979-80).
• Zeigler’s two steals moved his career total to 247, passing LSU’s Torris Bright (245 from 1999-2003) for sole possession of the No. 10 spot on the SEC all-time leaderboard.
• Zeigler made his 135th appearance as a Volunteer, tying Kyle Alexander (2015-19) for seventh place in program history.
• The 37 minutes for Zeigler upped his career tally to 3,923, eclipsing Brandon Wharton (3,904 from 1995-99) for eighth-most in Tennessee history.
• Zeigler now owns two of the five double-digit assist performances by a Volunteer in NCAA tournament play, as he logged 10 on March 21, 2024, against Saint Peter’s.
• The 12 assists matched Johnny Darden’s total on March 13, 1977, against Syracuse for the second-most by a Tennessee player in the NCAA Tournament, trailing just the 16 by Bert Bertelkamp on March 8, 1980, against Furman.
• In both of Zeigler’s 10-assist NCAA Tournament showings, he also had 10-plus points, giving him the only two points/assists double-doubles ever by a Volunteer in the event.
• Zeigler amassed double-digit assists for the 14th time in his career, including the sixth in 2024-25, with this his fifth time—third this year—posting 12-plus.
• Zeigler now owns 13 double-doubles in his career, with 12 of them—seven more than any other Volunteer—featuring points and assists.
• Over the last 50 seasons (1975-2025), Zeigler is, per the Elias Sports Bureau, the sixth player to compile at least 12 points, 12 assists and zero turnovers in an NCAA Tournament game, joining the following individuals: Colorado’s McKinley Wright IV (March 20, 2021, versus Georgetown), UCLA’s Earl Watson (March 18, 2000, versus Maryland), Bradley’s Jim Les (March 13, 1986, versus UTEP), Indiana’s Isiah Thomas (March 14, 1981, versus Maryland) and Missouri’s Larry Drew (March 8, 1980, versus Notre Dame).
• Across those 50 years, Zeigler is, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the 10th player with even 12 assists and zero turnovers, regardless of point total, in an NCAA Tournament affair.
• Zeigler is the only SEC player in the last 20 years (2005-25) with 12 assists, 10 points and no turnovers in a single game.
• In those same 20 seasons, Zeigler now has two outings with 12-plus assists and zero turnovers, while every other SEC player combined has three, with the list as follows: Kentucky’s Sahvir Wheeler (Nov. 12, 2021, versus Robert Morris), Tennessee’s Lamonte’ Turner (Nov. 12, 2019, versus Murray State), Kentucky’s Rajon Rondo (Feb. 22, 2006, versus Ole Miss).
• Zeigler is the only player in 2024-25 with 12 points, 12 assists and zero turnovers in a regulation game against a Division I opponent, with the last instance recorded one season ago by Gonzaga’s Ryan Nembhard on March 11, 2024, versus San Francisco in Paradise, Nev.
• Zeigler and Mashack, who already own the school’s four-year wins record, recorded their 107th victory at Tennessee, eclipsing four-and-a-half-year competitor Santiago Vescovi (106) for sole possession of fourth place on the program’s overall wins list.
• Lanier’s six 3-point makes pushed his season total to 116, moving him up to No. 10 on the SEC single-season leaderboard.
• The 116 made 3-pointers for Lanier this season also put him second on Tennessee’s single-season list, as he eclipsed Chris Lofton (114 in 2005-06).
• The 29 points by Lanier eclipsed the 28 by Reggie Johnson on March 6, 1980, against Furman for the most by a Volunteer in an NCAA Tournament win.
• The only Tennessee players to score greater than 29 points in an NCAA Tournament contest are Dalton Knecht (37 on March 31, 2024, versus Purdue) and Ernie Grunfeld (36 on March 13, 1976, versus VMI).
• Lanier registered the 29th 20-point performance of his career, including the 14th in his lone season as a Volunteer, as well as reached 25 points for the 14th time, including the sixth in 2024-25.
• The 29 points for Lanier marked his second-highest total of the season, trailing only the 30 he scored Feb. 22 at Texas A&M.
• The 11 made field goals for Lanier set a new season high—he made 10 on three occasions—and matched his career best, set twice during his North Florida tenure, as he went 11-of-18 both and Jan. 25, 2024, at Bellarmine and Feb. 8, 2024, against North Alabama.
• Lanier’s 11 field goals also tied for the most by a Volunteer this season, equaling the mark set Nov. 17, 2024, by Miličić against Austin Peay.
• Lanier connected on six 3-pointers for the seventh time in his career, including the fifth during his lone year at Tennessee.
• Okpara’s blocked shot upped his 2024-25 tally to 60, matching Doug Roth (60 in 1988-89) for sixth place on Tennessee’s single-season list and becoming the seventh Volunteer to reach 60 in a campaign.
• Sophomore forward Cade Phillips grabbed five rebounds in the victory, his 11th time reaching that mark as a Volunteer, all of which are during the 2024-25 campaign.
• Phillips amassed a 6-of-8 ledger from the free-throw line, setting career highs in both makes and attempts.
• Phillips’ prior high in made free throws with five against Miami on Dec. 10, 2024, in New York, while his previous best in attempts was six, both against the Hurricanes and Dec. 31 versus Norfolk State.
• Freshman guard Bishop Boswell’s layup with 4:47 on the first-half clock marked his third field-goal as a Volunteer, his first points since Dec. 3, 2024, versus Syracuse and his first field goal since Nov. 21, 2024, against Virginia in Nassau, Bahamas.
• The following Volunteers made their NCAA Tournament debuts: Boswell, Lanier, Okpara, fifth-year guard Darlinstone Dubar, freshman guard Campbell Duncan, senior forward Igor Miličić Jr., and freshman guard Gavin Paull.
Late-Inning Comeback Bid Falls Short in Series Opener at #10/12 Alabama
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 1/1 Tennessee came up just short in Thursday night’s series opener at No. 10/12 Alabama, falling 6-5 at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
It was a game of runs as the Volunteers (20-2, 3-1 SEC) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead with a pair of runs in the first and another in the second – highlighted by an Andrew Fischer two-run blast in the top of the first inning – before the Crimson Tide responded with six unanswered runs in the second and third innings.
Alabama (22-1, 4-0 SEC) pounced for five runs in the bottom of the second inning to take the lead. A leadoff single followed by a hit batsman and an error loaded the bases before back-to-back walks and a bases-clearing double by star shortstop Justin Lebron resulted in a 5-3 advantage.
The Tide tacked on another run in the third on an RBI groundout to increase its lead to three after three innings of action.
Neither side was able to score in the middle three innings as both starting pitchers settled in after rocky starts.
Right fielder Bryce Fowler robbed Reese Chapman of a would-be solo home run in the sixth with an impressive leaping grab at the wall, a play that would prove to be pivotal later in the contest.
Liam Doyle suffered his first loss of the season after surrendering six runs (five earned) on six hits and four walks. The junior lefthander did well to battle through his early-game struggles to provide the Big Orange with six important innings to help preserve the bullpen and finished with nine strikeouts on the night.
Late Comeback Comes Up Just Short
Tennessee fought back to cut its deficit to one with a pair of runs in the seventh inning, recording four singles in the frame, including an RBI knock by Hunter Ensley before a sacrifice fly from Fischer to drive in his third run of the game.
The first two batters of the eighth inning reached base but a lineout double play and a strikeout ended the threat. The Vols also had the tying run aboard in the ninth after Jay Abernathy reached base with his third hit of the night, but he was caught stealing before a flyout to right field secured the sixth save of the year for Crimson Tide closer Carson Ozmer.
Loy Looks Good Again
Dylan Loy looked good once again in relief, tossing two scoreless innings to keep UT within striking distance. The sophomore lefty retired all six batters he faced after tossing 3.1 shutout frames in his previous outing against Florida last Sunday.
Up Next
The Vols will look to even the series on Friday night when the two teams meet for game two. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network+ and ESPN app.
