KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 1 Tennessee took on Western Carolina Tuesday night inside Food City Center. The Vols won 84-36.
Tennessee’s starting lineup included Zakai Zeigler, Chaz Lanier, Igor Milicic Jr., Felix Okpara and Jahmai Mashack.
The Catamounts controlled the tip and led 6-0 early on. The top-ranked Vols didn’t take the lead until five minutes into the game. Back-to-back Lanier deep triples put the Vols in front with 13:33 left in the first half.
The Vols went on a 16-0 run to stay in front at the half, 38-15. Lanier led in points with 10, but Darlinstone Dubar had some big moments in the first half. Seven of his nine points came in the last four minutes before the break, including a wide-open corner three.
In the second half, Tennessee was rolling past the Catamounts. Western Carolina made its first field goal of the entire game at the 17:40 mark. It was also the team’s only points of the second half with 15:52 left in the game.
Tennessee only allowed just 21 points in the second half. Lanier led the way with 19 points, while Zeigler, Dubar, and Gainey also scored in double figures.
Zeigler was just 2-of-13 from the field, but had 10 points in total, most coming from the free-throw line. He was just one assist away from a triple-double. Although his shooting performance wasn’t the best, he still led the team in assists and rebounds with nine each.
The Vols shot 46.4 percent from the field in the win, while also knocking down eight triples.
Tennessee takes on Middle Tennessee on Monday inside the Food City Center at 7 p.m.
