CHAMPAIGN, Illinois — No. 1 Tennessee beat Illinois 66-64, to stay undefeated on the season. This is the first 10-0 start for the Vols since the 1999-2000 season.
Jordan Gainey put in the buzzer-beater game-winning bucket, he finished with a career-high 23 points. Igor Milicic Jr. finished with 14 rebounds and 7 points.
Gainey was on fire in the second half with 18 second half points and 3-5 from three-point range in the win.
This one was a back-and-forth affair with 13 lead changes throughout the game. Tennessee led Illinois at halftime, 31-30. Chaz Lanier led the way in the first half with 15 points, 2-4 from three-point range, and finished the game with 17 points.
Fouls plagued the Vols in Champaign, Zakai Zeigler picked up his fourth foul with 18:13 to play in the second half and fouled out with 5.7 seconds left in the game. Zeigler was not the only Vol in foul trouble, Chaz Lanier fouled out with 3:42 left in the game.
The Vols will be back at home on December 17th, hosting West Carolina University, tip off is at 7 p.m.
