KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 10 Tennessee lost to No. 17 North Carolina 100-92 on the road in Chapel Hill as a part of the inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge
The Tar Heels had the early advantage as their three-point shooting led the way. At the under-12-minute timeout, UNC held a 23-12 lead, shooting five of 11 from three-point range. The Vols had four turnovers during the first eight minutes. UT fouled Cormac Ryan on a three-point shot before the timeout.
He made all three free throws and then Jalen Washington made another bucket to put the Tar Heels up 28-12. North Carolina got up 20 points following and one layup from Armando Bacot that put UNC up 42-21.
North Carolina led 61-39 at halftime. They shot 56% from the field and scored 20 points off of ten UT turnovers. Four Tar Heels scored in double-digits in the first half.
The Vols shot the ball well in the first half, making 53% of their shots. However, they only made one of 12 three-pointers. Dalton Knecht and Josiah-Jordan James accounted for 27 of the first 39 points for Tennessee.
Tennessee pulled within 12 points after Dalton Knecht scored to bring his total to 31 points and then Jordan Gainey scored off a turnover. The Vols trailed 81-69.
Knecht later drew the Vols within 11 points following a layup and then UT got within single digits following a Zakai Zeigler to cut the deficit to 82-74 with 8:42 to go.
After UNC got up 10 points, James drilled a three-pointer to make the score 84-77. However, UNC pulled away. RJ Davis made a three-pointer for UNC Bacot made two free throws and Elliot Cadeu made a free throw to extend the lead back to 13 points.
After trailing 92-82 with 2:12 to go, the Vols got within six points after made free throws from Knecht and Jonas Aidoo.
Tennessee wouldn't get any closer in that in the loss. Knecht was injured after twisting his ankle in the last two minutes of the game.
He finished with 37 points, which is the most by a Vol since 2019 when Grant Williams scored 43 against Vanderbilt. It's the first 30-point game by a Vol since 2020 when Jaden Springer scored 30 points against Georgia. Knecht was 13 of 17 from the floor.
The Vols play next Tuesday at home against George Mason. Tip-off is at 6:30 p.m.
