KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 6 Tennessee got off to a fast start and never looked back in an 88-68 win over LSU inside the Food City Center on Wednesday.
The Vols started the game on a 13-0 run. UT got up 2-0 after Dalton Knecht made two free throws. Then, Zakai Zeigler hit a three-pointer, Knecht did the same shortly after. Zeigler scored on a cutting layup for a 10-0 lead and LSU called a timeout.
After the timeout, UT kept swinging. Josiah-Jordan James knocked down a triple for that 13-0 lead.
After an LSU free throw, the Vols went up 15-1 following a Jonas Aidoo dunk.
LSU found some offense after that to cut the Vols lead to single digits to 21-15.
UT responded with a Jonas Aidoo layup and then Jordan Gainey three-pointer to go back up double digits by a score of 26-15. When LSU got within single digits again at 26-18, Gainey drilled another three-pointer to put the Vols up 29-18.
The Vols kept making them from distance. Zeigler made back-to-back threes for the Vols and Knecht splashed in another too. UT went up 40-22.
Tennessee led 40-27 at halftime. They shot nine of 15 from three-point range in the first half.
The Vols led 70-47 with 9:05 left in the second half and it seemed like it would be a coast to victory from there. However, the Vols offense struggled.
LSU trimmed the lead all the way down to single digits, trialing 72-64 after Detek Fountain scored on a layup with 4:39 to go.
Tennessee stabilized in the final minutes to close it out.
Knecht finished with 27 points, seven rebounds, six assists, two steals and three blocks. Zeigler had 17 points, nine assists, five steals and four rebounds. Gainey had 18 points, three assists and three steals.
The Vols’ next game is on the road Saturday at Texas A&M. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.
