Lady Vols C Mercedes Russell / Credit: UT Athletics
PUERTO AVENTURAS, Mexico — No. 12/14 Tennessee outlasted previously-unbeaten Oklahoma State Friday evening, winning 79-69 on day two of the Cancun Challenge.
Senior Jaime Nared and Mercedes Russell once again led the team in production, combining for 46 points and 18 rebounds. Nared had 21 points on the day, moving her career point total to 1,004 while adding 10 rebounds to notch her second straight double-double. Russell recorded a season-high 25 points and added eight rebounds.
Freshman Rennia Davis logged her third straight double-double, tallying 12 points and 10 rebounds in the contest.
Nared came out with a hot hand, scoring 10 points and going 2-for-2 from behind the arc in the opening minutes. She went 4-or-4 to close the quarter, putting Tennessee (5-0) ahead 24-10.
Tennessee maintained its double-digit lead until the 6:57 mark of the second quarter when OSU (5-1) went on a 12-5 run to cut the lead to 30-22. Nared countered, stealing a ball off the dribble and converting it into two points, but the Cowgirls answered with five quick points to creep within five. Tennessee closed out the final two minutes of the half with a 7-1 run to take a 10-point lead into the locker room.
OSU started the half with a 9-2 run to cut the lead to three at the 7:45 mark. Two Anastasia Hayes buckets would break the slump. As the quarter wound down, UT weathered a field goal drought of nearly four minutes before Russell converted on three-point play with 1:07 to go in the third. She would do so again with just six seconds left in the quarter to give Tennessee a 57-49 lead heading in to the final stanza.
Russell opened up the fourth quarter with a layup to stretch UT’s lead to 10. The team traded baskets for several possessions until OSU’s Loryn Goodwin cut the lead to six with 4:36 to go in the game. Russell answered with back-to-back buckets and Tennessee went on to win 79-69.
Goodwin led OSU in scoring with 29 points.
Up Next: Tennessee will play its final game of the Cancun Challenge, facing off against South Dakota at 4 p.m. ETtomorrow. The game is available for streaming online at CBS College Sports Live.
Nared Breaks 1,000:Jaime Nared scored 21 points to bring her career total to 1,004, making her the 45th Lady Vol to surpass 1,000 career points.
Freshman Three-Peat:Rennia Davis notched her third consecutive double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Through five games she is averaging 12.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.
Points In The Paint: The Lady Vols scored 42 points in the paint, accounting for more than half of their total points. Russell was a large part of that, connecting on 11 of 16 shots from the field. She now has hit 41 of 59 for the season, knocking down a sizzling 69.5 percent of her attempts.
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas — Tennessee overcame a sluggish first half to hold off NC State, 67-58, to claim a third-place finish at the 2017 Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis.
A trio of sophomores led the Vols (4-1) in the scoring column, with Grant Williams notching a team-high 14 points while Jordan Bone and Jordan Bowden added 13 and 10, respectively. Bowden, who scored all of his points in the second half, reached double figures on his final shot of the game, beating the shot clock on a pull-up jumper to put Tennessee out of reach with just 44 seconds remaining.
Junior Kyle Alexander came through with another strong performance at Atlantis, notching eight points, 13 rebounds, four blocks and two steals. Fellow big-man Williams put forth a similarly well-rounded stat line, posting six rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals.
Though it never trailed in the game, Tennessee was plagued by turnovers and poor shooting in the first half. The Vols committed 12 turnovers in the frame, but NC State (5-2) managed just six points off those miscues. And while UT shot just 35.7 percent from the field over the opening 20 minutes, Bone supplied enough offense with 11 points on 3-of-3 shooting.
Williams settled in in the second half, scoring 10 points in the period and helping the Vols to a 54-43 advantage with 8:17 to play. The Wolfpack whittled away at the deficit, coming as close as 59-55 with 3:19 left in the game, but Bowden knocked down two free throws and then beat the shot clock with less than a minute to play to seal the win.
ALEXANDER STANDS OUT IN TOURNEY: Junior forward Kyle Alexander had a clear size advantage when he the stepped onto the court Friday, as NC State’s tallest starter stood at 6-8, three inches shorter than the Milton, Ontario, native. With that height differential, he tied his career high in rebounds at 13, blocked four shots and snagged a pair of steals to go along with eight points in 29 minutes of action. During the tournament, he averaged 8.3 ppg on 61 percent (11-of-18) shooting, 10.3 rpg and 1.7 bpg.
VOLS BOLSTERED BY STOUT DEFENSE: With the offense starting to fatigue from the grind of playing three games in three days, UT stepped up on defense. The Volunteers finished the game with 13 steals and nine blocks while forcing 21 turnovers and holding the Wolfpack to a season-low 58 points.
WITH THE WIN: Tennessee claimed its highest finish in an early-season tournament since placing third in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off in 2011. In Friday’s third-place game, the Volunteers snapped a four-game losing streak to NC State.
UP NEXT: The Vols returns home to face Mercer for a 7 p.m. ET tip on Wednesday, Nov. 29. That game will be available online through SEC Network+ (WatchESPN).
PUERTO AVENTURAS, Mexico — No. 12/14 Tennessee (4-0) meets Oklahoma State (5-0) at 4 p.m. ET today in the Cancun Challenge at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya Convention Center.
This will mark each team’s second contest of the Cancun Challenge, where both teams are competing in the Riviera Tournament.
UT enters undefeated after winning three straight at home to open the season (East Tennessee State, James Madison, Wichita State) and then winning its first game of the Cancun Challenge, knocking off No. 20/20 Marquette, 101-99, in overtime on Thursday night.
The Cowgirls, meanwhile, defeated Incarnate Word (86-35), Wichita State (91-67), UT Rio Grande Valley (80-38) and Northwestern State (78-44) at home and began the Cancun Challenge with a 76-68 victory over South Dakota on Thursday.
OSU is receiving votes in the AP Poll, amounting to a No. 34 ranking at this point in the season.
BROADCAST INFO.
• Games at the Cancun Challenge will be streamed online via CBS College Sports Live. See the Hoops Central page on UTSports.com for a link to watch.
• The audio for the live streams will feature the radio broadcast audio from one of the two competing schools.
• Mickey Dearstone will handle the call for IMG College/Lady Vol Network radio/online broadcasts for the 19th season.
• Friday’s Lady Vol Radio Network broadcast will be available via audio stream on UTSports.com as well as network radio stations.
• Due to Saturday’s game time coinciding with the radio broadcast of the Tennessee-Vanderbilt football game, audio of the Lady Vols’ contest vs. South Dakota will be streamed online only.
• Air time for games on the Lady Vol Radio Network is generally 30 minutes prior to tip-off. Because Saturday’s contest will be streamed online only, air time will be approximately five minutes before tip.
COMING UP FOR UT
• Tennessee closes out its stay at the Cancun Challenge on Saturday at 4 p.m. vs. South Dakota.
• The Lady Vols are back at home on Nov. 30, as Central Arkansas comes to town for a 7 p.m. contest at Thompson-Boling Arena.
ABOUT THE CANCUN CHALLENGE
• The tournament is being held in the convention center ballroom at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya. The resort is located along the Caribbean coastline of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, located on the eastern portion of the Yucatan Peninsula.
• This marks the 13th year of the women’s Cancun Challenge, and this is the sixth time it’s being played at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya.
• Since its inception in 2005, the tournament has hosted 136 games, including 90-plus NCAA Division I teams from 27 conferences.
• Six teams make up the Riviera Division, and they play two or three games apiece in the tournament. The schools include Indiana State, Marquette, Montana, Oklahoma State, South Dakota and Tennessee.
• The Mayan Division teams include Arizona State, Columbia, Green Bay and Mississippi State, who will compete in a three-game round robin.
INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT HISTORY
• This will mark the program’s seventh international excursion, including a 2015 late summer excursion in Italy and a 2013 regular season trip to the Bahamas for the Junkanoo Jam, both during the Holly Warlick era.
• The Lady Vols had previous summer trips to Brazil in 1987, Belgium/France/Switzerland in 1999 and Italy/Greece in 2003. They also went to Great Britain in January of 1992.
• UT is 17-7 all-time on foreign soil, including the NCAA countable wins over SMU and Virginia on the 2013 Bahamas trip to win that tourney and a triumph over No. 20/20 Marquette on Thursday night to open the Cancun Challenge.
TENNESSEE RESET
• Tennessee has averaged 86.2 points per contest and won by an average margin of 20.3 points in its first four games this season.
• UT has four players averaging in double figures, including seniors Jaime Nared (18.3) and Mercedes Russell (17.0) and freshmen Rennia Davis(13.0) and Anastasia Hayes (13.0).
• Jaime Nared has scored 25+ points twice this season already (25 vs. James Madison, 26 vs. Marquette).
• Mercedes Russell continues to shoot at a high percentage, connecting on 69.8 percent of her shots.
• Rennia Davis has notched double-doubles the past two games and is averaging 13.0 points and 9.0 rebounds.
• Tennessee leads the SEC, pulling down 51.0 rebounds per game, with Nared (11.5) and Russell (10.5) averaging double
• Jaime Nared and Mercedes Russell were named to the John R. Wooden Award Watch List last week.
• The Lady Vols are averaging 19.8 made free throws per game, hitting 23 of 32 in a game vs. Marquette that included 49 total fouls.
• Anastasia Hayes has gotten to the free throw line an average of 11.3 times per game, hitting 34 for a 75.6 percentage.
• After getting off to a slow start at the free throw line this season, Jaime Nared hit 11 of 12 vs. Marquette to improve her percentage to 76.9 (20-26).
• UT has limited its opponents to 66.0 points per game and to 35.5 percent shooting from the field.
• After tallying 11 or more steals in only two games last season, the Lady Vols have racked up 11 or more in three of four contests thus far. They average 10.3 per game and force opponents into 18.0 turnovers per outing thus far.
• Tennessee has put together some scoring runs this season, stringing together 17 straight points spanning the first and second quarters vs. East Tennessee State. Against Marquette, UT opened the game on a 10-0 spurt and used a 14-0 blitz to erase a seven-point deficit. UT also added a 12-0 run vs. Wichita State (2Q) and an 11-0 spree (3Q) as well.
• UT has two players averaging four or more assists per game and another just off that pace. Evina Westbrook is at 4.8, followed by Anastasia Hayes at 4.3 and Jaime Nared at 3.8.
• Tennessee’s 101 points vs. Marquette were the most by the Lady Vols in an overtime game. The 200-point combined total also was a high-water mark for OT. The previous high was 199 from a 100-99 UT win over LSU on March 1, 1997.
UT LAST TIME OUT (UT 101, MARQUETTE 99 OT)
• Double-double performances by seniors Jaime Nared and Mercedes Russell fueled No. 12/14 Tennessee to a 101-99 overtime win over No. 20/20 Marquette on Thursday night
• Nared got off to a quick start, scoring 15 points in the first half. She finished the evening with 26 points, 15 rebounds and six assists for her second double-double this season and the 11th of her career. Russell came on strong in the second half, notching 12 of her 17 points and grabbing 13 of 15 boards in the final 25 minutes of the game. She also posted her second double-double this season and the 32nd of her career.
• In a game riddled with 49 total fouls, the Lady Vols went 23-of-32 from the free throw line and saw Evina Westbrook (10 points) and Nared foul out in regulation and Rennia Davis card her fifth foul in the extra frame. Before she departed, though, Davis produced UT’s third double-double of the game by tallying 14 points and 10 rebounds.
OKLAHOMA STATE RESET
• Loryn Goodwin and Kaylee Jensen lead Oklahoma State in scoring at 18.0 and 15.7 points per game, respectively.
• Jensen also is OSU’s top rebounder, pulling down 7.7 per contest, while Goodwin leads in assists at 5.4 per outing.
• The Cowgirls are averaging 83.8 points per game and holding opponents to a paltry 46.0 per contest, a scoring margin of 37.8.
• Oklahoma State has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.6, recording 77 assists to only 49 turnovers.
• OSU also gets after it on defense, carding 57 steals and forcing 90 turnovers.
• Head coach Jim Littell is in his seventh season at OSU, recording a 131-69 mark in Stillwater.
• The Cowgirls beat Wichita State 91-67 on Nov. 14. Tennessee defeated WSU, 68-56, on Nov. 20.
OKLA. STATE LAST TIME OUT (OSU 76, USD 68)
• Oklahoma State improved to 5-0 on the year with a hard-fought, 76-68 win over South Dakota in its first game at the Cancun Challenge at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya on Thursday afternoon.
• The Cowgirls used a 13-2 spurt during the first quarter that featured two 3-pointers from senior Loryn Goodwin, redshirt freshman Jaden Hobbs and junior Karli Wheeler en route to a 20-11 lead.
• Goodwin finished with a game-high 18 points to go with seven rebounds, five assists and three steals, while Kaylee Jensen tallied her second double-double of the year with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
THE SERIES VS. OSU
• This marks the second meeting between the Lady Vols and Cowgirls, with UT holding a 1-0 advantage.
• The previous meeting between Tennessee and OSU took place on Dec. 4, 1992, in the Rainbow Wahine Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii. Tennessee claimed a 69-60 victory in that contest.
• UT is 54-22 all-time vs. current members of the Big 12 Conference.
LAST MEETING BETWEEN UT-OSU
• No. 2/2 ranked Tennessee took a nine-point into the locker room at the half (36-27) and gave no ground in the second half in taking a 69-60 decision over Oklahoma State in the Rainbow Wahine Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii.
• Dana Johnson hit 12 of 14 shots from the field to score 24 points for the Lady Vols in addition to grabbing nine rebounds.
• Nikki McCray chipped in 11 points, while Vonda Ward supplied 10 points and a game-high 14 rebounds for the Lady Vols.
• UT overcame a double-double of 19 points and 14 rebounds from OSU’s Lisa McGill as well as the Lady Vols’ 12-for-23 and 3-for-13 struggles from the free throw line and three-point range, respectively.
Tennessee’s decision to dismiss Jauan Jennings was warranted and deserved.
In fact, it was almost a no-brainer.
After walking out of practice Wednesday – in essence, quitting the team – the junior wide receiver went on a profanity-laced tirade in which he blasted the coaches, calling them fake, snakes and liars.
Jennings dropped the F-bomb multiple times. He used the N-word multiple times. He blamed UT’s coaches for the Vols’ poor season.
Is that the type student-athlete the Vol Nation wants representing their school?
“It ain’t nothing to do with no players,’’ Jennings said of Tennessee’s 4-7 season. “It ain’t nothing to do with no (expletive) injuries (expletive). It’s straight (expletive) coaching.’’
Jennings also said: “The coaching staff is holding us back. Please, Tennessee, send us a great (expletive) coaching staff.’’
Shortly after seeing Jennings’ distasteful rant, Jennings was kicked off the team.
“In consultation with vice chancellor/director of athletics John Currie, I have made the decision to dismiss Jauan from our program,’’ Tennessee interim coach Brady Hoke said Wednesday in a UT statement. “Representing the University of Tennessee football program is a privilege.’’
A privilege Jennings no longer deserves.
He is a talent with a bad temper. He is an athlete with an awful attitude.
Last year, he made a huge touchdown catch to help beat Florida and made the miraculous Hail Mary snare in the end zone to beat Georgia. But for every great play, he seemed to draw an unsportsmanlike penalty and engage in scuffles with opponents. He was competitive. He was also incredibly immature.
It seemed Jennings was poised to have a terrific season after catching 40 passes for 580 yards in 2016. He would be the top target with the departure of Josh Malone.
But Jennings broke his wrist in the season opener against Georgia Tech, had surgery, and then went AWOL.
He didn’t come to practice.
He didn’t go to the weight room.
He didn’t rehab in the training room.
He didn’t attend most games.
Some teammate, huh?
He also didn’t consistently go to class, putting his eligibility in question.
Jennings was gone so long from the team, Tennessee cleaned out his locker, believing he had quit, sources said.
Jennings first returned to practice Tuesday, a source said, and the Murfreesboro native hoped to play against Vanderbilt. On Wednesday, he stormed off the practice field because UT wouldn’t let him play quarterback. He wasn’t told to leave. He departed because UT wouldn’t let him play his high school position!
He then took to Instagram to record his disgusting rant.
One coach on the UT staff told me Jennings was one of the three hardest players on the team to manage, given his peculiar and unpredictable behavior.
Before the season opener this year, Jennings was a no-show at practice. A UT player was summoned to find him; Jennings was found in his room, stoned.
His punishment? He started against Georgia Tech.
Jones had a right to dismiss Jennings back in August. He had further cause in the ensuing two months when Jennings disobeyed instructions from Jones and others in the football program to attend meetings, go to the training room, show up at practice – like two other injured Vols did: Cortez McDowell and Todd Kelly Jr.
I’ve heard some argue that the next UT coach should decide whether Jennings should be dismissed. I disagree.
If I’m the next coach and I look at Jennings’ resume, I’m thanking Hoke and Currie for kicking Jennings off the team so he’s not my problem. And I’m wondering why Tennessee didn’t take stronger action than just a suspension.
Jennings is apparently fighting some demons. He has anger management problems. He has a volatile personality. He has tested positive for drugs at least once at UT.
It’s obvious to me that Jennings needs professional help.
No doubt, Jennings is a troubled young man.
And it’s time for him to take his troubles elsewhere.
Sponsored by Big Kahuna Wings: The wings that changed it all
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas — Tennessee concludes its three-game stay in the Bahamas on Friday when it faces NC State in the third-place game of the Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis. Tip-off from Imperial Arena is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ETon ESPN2.
Friday marks the first meeting between Tennessee (3-1) and NC State (5-1) since 2014 when the Wolfpack claimed an 83-72 victory in Raleigh. NC State owns a 7-3 all-time record against UT, but the Vols are 2-1 against NC State in neutral site games.
Like Tennessee, NC State suffered its first loss of the season on Thursday when it dropped a 64-60 decision to Northern Iowa in the semifinals of the Battle 4 Atlantis. The Wolfpack had advanced to that game after upsetting No. 2 Arizona on Wednesday, picking up a 90-84 win.
The Vols head to Friday’s third-place game after losing 85-76 to No. 5 Villanova on Thursday. Tennessee held a 12-point lead at halftime, but turnovers and a poor shooting half caused trouble for UT as the Wildcats raced ahead for the victory to claim a spot in the Battle 4 Atlantis title game. Grant Williams led the Vols in scoring for the second straight game, dropping 20 points to go along with a game-high eight rebounds. Admiral Schofield added 16 points while James Daniel III had 10 off the bench.
THE SERIES
Overall: NC State leads, 7-3
In Knoxville: NC State leads, 3-0
In Raleigh: NC State leads, 3-1
Neutral Sites: UT leads, 2-1
Current Streak: NC State has won four straight
Last Meeting: NC State won, 83-72, on Dec. 17, 2014
Barnes vs. NC State: 9-7
Barnes vs. Keatts: No meetings
PREVIEWING NC STATE
Head Coach Kevin Keatts is in his first year with the Wolfpack and fourth season as a head coach.
NC State received a huge boost during the offseason with the addition of Baylor graduate transfer Allerik Freeman, who is the Pack’s leading scorer this season at 16.2 ppg.
Redshirt junior guard Torin Dorn is another offensive threat for NC State, averaging 14.8 ppg on 57 percent shooting from the field as a slasher and 6.0 rpg.
Redshirt senior forward Lennard Freeman is the most efficient scoring threat for the Pack, as he averages 12.8 ppg behind 72 percent shooting from the field and 84 percent from the charity stripe.
The Wolfpack is currently 5-1 to begin the season. In the first round of the tournament, they earned a huge upset victory over No. 2-ranked Arizona, 90-84. In the second round, NCSU fell to Northern Iowa in a back-and-forth contest, 64-60.
The Vols and NC State have met 10 times previously, with the Pack owning a 7-3 advantage and a four-game winning streak currently in the series. UT’s last win vs. the Wolfpack came in a 92-78 contest on Jan. 27, 1992, in Raleigh.
Vols head coach Rick Barnes owns a .479 career record against ACC teams (67-73) and is 6-4 against NC State.
THE LAST TIME vs. NC STATE
Ralston Turner, the cousin of current UT guard Lamonte Turner, dropped career highs with 33 points and eight 3-pointers to lead the Wolfpack past the Volunteers, 83-72, on Dec. 17, 2014.
Josh Richardson topped the Tennessee (4-4) scoring chart for the seventh time in eight games with 17 points (13 in the second half). Armani Moore had nine of his 14 points in the final 20 minutes. Kevin Punter also added 14 points. The Vols made 10-of-17 from 3-point land for 59 percent from beyond the arc.
Down 12 at halftime and 17 with 12 minutes left, the Vols rallied to cut their deficit to five (56-51) on back-to-back 3-pointers by Detrick Mostella and Derek Reese with 8:28 left in the game.
Alabama transfer Trevor Lacey added 20 points for the Wolfpack and made three of NC State’s 11 treys.
The first half was tight for the first 16 minutes with neither team leading by more than two possessions until late. NC State took control late with an 9-0 spurt to end the half and led 39-27 at intermission. Tennessee was held scoreless for the final 4:13 of the first half.
NC STATE CONNECTIONS
UT sophomore Jordan Bowden and NC State sophomore Darius Hicks both played at 22 Feet Academy in Greenville, S.C., during their senior years in high school in 2015-16.
UT redshirt sophomore Lamonte Turner is the cousin of former NC State guard Ralston Turner.
PUERTO AVENTURAS, Mexico — Double-double performances by seniors Jaime Nared and Mercedes Russell fueled No. 12/14 Tennessee to a 101-99 overtime win over No. 20/20 Marquette on Thursdaynight at the Hard Rock Hotel Convention Center.
Nared got off to a quick start, scoring 15 points in the first half. She finished the day with 26 points, 15 rebounds and six assists for her second double-double this season and the 11th of her career. Russell came on strong in the second half, notching 12 of her 17 points and grabbing 13 of 15 boards in the final 25 minutes of the game. She also posted her second double-double this season and the 32nd of her career.
In a game riddled with 49 total fouls, the Lady Vols went 23-of-32 from the free throw line and saw Evina Westbrook (10 points) and Nared foul out in regulation and Rennia Davis card her fifth foul in the extra frame. Before she departed, though, Davis produced UT’s third double-double of the game by tallying 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The Lady Vols came out strong to start the game, scoring 10 unanswered points in the first 90 seconds. By the 5:48 mark all of Tennessee’s starters had notched a basket. UT led by as many as 12 points before the Golden Eagles cut the lead to six off a three-point play by Allazia Blockton. Meme Jackson immediately answered, sinking a three on the next play with 4:13 to go in the quarter, but Marquette capitalized on Tennessee turnovers, going on an 11-2 run to cut the Lady Vols’ lead to 27-25 by the end of the quarter.
Anastasia Hayes, who finished with 16 points, and Kortney Dunbar led off the second quarter for the Lady Vols, each sinking three pointers on back-to-back possessions. Tennessee led by as many as 10 points midway through the quarter, but Marquette countered, scrapping back to within three for a score of 50-47 at the half.
The Golden Eagles took their first lead of the game just 36 seconds into the second half off an Erika Davenport layup, going up 51-50. The lead would change two more times before Marquette managed to pull ahead 69-67 going into the fourth stanza.
Marquette jumped out to a 75-70 lead in the fourth before Tennessee scored nine points in 56 seconds to move ahead 79-75, converting on two Marquette turnovers. The Golden Eagles cut the lead to one point with 1:13 to go in the game. The two teams would then trade free throws with Tennessee hitting four and Marquette hitting five to force overtime at 89-89. Westbrook and Nared each fouled out in the fourth quarter, leaving the Lady Vols with only eight players available for the extra period.
Cheridene Green subbed in for the overtime period and immediately made an impact, knocking down four points and collecting two rebounds. Marquette rallied back and took a one-point lead with 1:11 to go before Hayes scored on back-to-back layups and converted on a free throw to go up 101 to 97. A Natisha Hiedeman bucket pulled the Golden Eagles within two at 101-99, but Tennessee held on for the victory.
Blockton and Hiedeman led Marquette in scoring with 28 and 23 points, respectively.
Up Next: Tennessee will play Oklahoma State at 4 p.m. ETon Friday in the teams’ second game at the Cancun Challenge. The game will be available for streaming on CBS College Sports Live.
Back-To-Back Double-Double For Davis:Rennia Davis notched the second double-double of her career with 14 points and 10 rebounds. She also logged a double-double in Tennessee’s previous game, scoring 15 points and pulling down 10 rebounds against Wichita State on Nov. 20.
Spreading The Points Around: Everyone who entered the game for Tennessee scored at least four points and five players (Nared, Russell, Westbrook, Davis, and Hayes) finished the game in double figures.
UT In Overtime Games: Tennessee improved to 31-19 all-time in overtime games, halting a three-game losing skid in extra-frame games. UT is now 12-4 in overtime at neutral sites. UT scored its most points ever in an overtime game (101) and the 200 combined points was another best, topping a 100-99 win over LSU on March 1, 1997.
The four-team field for the 2018 NIT Season Tip-Off was announced Thursday, and Tennessee is set to join Kansas, Louisville and Marquette in New York City next Thanksgiving.
The Volunteers will play two games at the longstanding event, which will take place at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center for the fourth straight year. In its last NIT Season Tip-Off appearance, Tennessee won the 2010 championship with victories over VCU and Villanova.
The 2018 Tip-Off games will be played on Nov. 21 and 23. Matchups will be announced at a later date.
Tennessee owns a 1-2 all-time record against Kansas, a 7-12 mark vs. Louisville and is 3-5 all-time against Marquette.
In addition to their 2010 championship showing, the Vols also appeared in the 1992 and 2006 NIT Season Tip-Offs. The Big Orange defeated Rutgers before falling to Seton Hall in 1992. In 2006, UT suffered losses to Butler and North Carolina at Madison Square Garden.
The NIT Season Tip-Off is one of 11 college basketball events owned and operated by ESPN Events, a division of ESPN. It has been played in New York City every November since 1985.
For more information about the NIT Season Tip-Off, visit http://espnevents.com/nit-tip-off/
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas — A sloppy second half spelled trouble for Tennessee on Thursday as its 12-point halftime lead wasn’t enough to hold off No. 5 Villanova, ultimately falling 85-76 in the semifinals of the Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis.
Grant Williams led the Vols (3-1) in scoring for the second consecutive game, finishing with 20 points to go along with a game-high eight rebounds. Admiral Schofield scored 16 points and James Daniel III added 10 off the bench.
Coming off a win over No. 18 Purdue on Wednesday, Tennessee looked poised to grab its second consecutive ranked win after it used a 15-4 run midway through the first half to claim a 10-point advantage. Williams scored six points, including an emphatic slam along the baseline, and Jordan Bowden buried one his of three 3-pointers in the frame to power the spurt.
The lead would grow to as many as 15 with 1:39 left in the first half after John Fulkerson knocked down a pair of free throws, helping UT to a 46-34 halftime advantage. Tennessee enjoyed 50 percent shooting (17-of-34) in the first half while scoring 15 second-chance points.
But Villanova (5-0) shot out of the second-half gate, needing fewer than five minutes to level the score. The Wildcats scored the first 11 points of the second half, ultimately tying the score on a three from Donte DiVincenzo before taking the lead on their next possession when Jalen Brunson got free for a layup.
Forcing 12 second-half turnovers while shooting 52 percent from the field, Villanova extended its advantage to 15 points with 4:40 to play. Tennessee would not go away quietly, whittling the deficit to 79-76 with less than a minute remaining, thanks in large part to the combined efforts of Williams and Schofield. It was as close as the Vols would come, though, as Villanova—which attempted 37 free throws on the afternoon—put the game away at the foul line.
SCHOFIELD’S SCORING STREAK CONTINUES: Forward Admiral Schofield is the only Vol to have scored in double digits every game this season. He finished Thursday’s game with 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the field. On the season, he is averaging 15.5 ppg and is the team’s second-leading scorer.
WILLIAMS POSTS ALL-AROUND PERFORMANCE: Forward Grant Williams posted another strong performance in the second game of the Battle 4 Atlantis, tallying 20 points, eight rebounds, three assists and a pair of blocks in 30 minutes of action. So far in the tournament, he’s averaging 21.0 points and eight boards per game and is a candidate to land on the All-Tournament Team.
UP NEXT: Tennessee faces NC State on Friday at 2:30 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on ESPN2. After that, Tennessee returns home to host Mercer in a 7 p.m.tip on Nov. 29. That game will available online through SEC Network + (WatchESPN).
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas — Coming off a win over No. 18 Purdue, Tennessee continues play at the Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis on Thanksgiving Day when it takes on fifth-ranked Villanova in the first of two tournament semifinals. Thursday’sgame tips at 12:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Tennessee (3-0) is meeting Villanova (4-0) for the first time since 2010 when the two programs met in New York City at the NIT Season Tip-Off. The Vols defeated the seventh-ranked Wildcats, 78-68, to claim the early-season tournament title.
Under the direction of 17-year head coach Jay Wright, Villanova advanced to Thursday’s semifinal after defeating Western Kentucky 66-58 in its opening game. The Wildcats got a combined 35 points from juniors Jalen Brunson (18 points) and Mikal Bridges (17). Bridges is Villanova’s leading scorer through four games, averaging 18.0 ppg to narrowly edge Brunson’s 17.8 ppg. The Wildcats picked up early season wins over Columbia, Nicholls and Lafayette before trekking to the Bahamas.
Following a win over 18th-ranked Purdue on Wednesday, the Vols will be looking to claim back-to-back wins over ranked opponents for the first time since the 2006-07 season. Grant Williams scored a game-high 22 points and added eight rebounds to power Tennessee to Wednesday’s victory, while Lamonte Turner added 17 points and Kyle Alexander recorded his first career double-double with 13 points and 11 boards.
THE VILLANOVA SERIES
Overall: Villanova leads, 2-1
In Knoxville: None
In Philadelphia: Villanova leads, 2-0
Neutral Sites: UT leads, 1-0
Current Streak: UT has won one straight
Last Meeting: UT won, 78-68, on Nov. 26, 2010, in New York, N.Y. for the NIT Season Tip-Off
Barnes vs. Purdue: 9-7
Barnes vs. Wright: 2-1
ABOUT VILLANOVA
Founded in 1842 and located in Villanova, Pennsylvania, Villanova University is a member of the Big East Conference.
The Wildcats are ranked fifth in this week’s AP poll and third in the coaches’ poll.
Coach Jay Wright is in his 17th season with the Wildcats and his 24th season as a head coach.
With hopes of capturing a second-consecutive national championship, Villanova posted a 32-4 record last year and won the Big East Championship to earn the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament before falling in the second round to Wisconsin.
This season, the Wildcats are charged with replacing the production of a senior trio (Josh Hart, Kris Jenkins and Darryl Reynolds) that led the program to its winningest era in school history (129-17).
Junior guard Jalen Brunson (14.7 ppg, 4.1 apg, 54 FG%) is the team’s leading returning scorer from last season. He is joined by redshirt junior guard/forward Mikal Bridges (9.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg), who is one of the major offensive threats for the Wildcats.
The Vols and Villanova have met just three times previously, with VU owning a 2-1 edge. In the last matchup between the two schools, Tennessee claimed the series’ only neutral-site clash, taking a 78-68 victory over the 7th-ranked Wildcats in the championship game of the 2010 NIT Season Tip-Off in Madison Square Garden.
Vols head coach Rick Barnes owns a 33-37 record against current Big East teams and is 9-7 against Villanova, with the majority of those contests coming when Barnes coached at Providence.
LAST MEETING VS. VILLANOVA
On Nov. 26, 2011, the 24th-ranked Vols won their first-ever game against No. 7 Villanova to claim the NIT Season Tip-Off title.
Scotty Hopson scored 18 points for Tennessee (5-0), while senior point guard Melvin Goins was the key late for the Volunteers, scoring seven of his nine points and coming up with two big steals in the final 2:17.
UT’s defense held strong against the Wildcats’ backcourt, which was considered on of the best in the country. Corey Fisher finished with three points on 1-of-10 shooting from the field for the Wildcats (5-1), while Maalik Wayns had 11 points on 3-for-11 shooting and Corey Stokes had 11 on 3-for-9 shooting.
Tennessee took the lead for good on a rebound basket by Hopson with 11:52 to play. Villanova was never able to get any kind of a run going as its three-guard offense couldn’t get going against the Volunteers.
The Wildcats closed within 56-55 on a basket by Dominic Cheek with 7:26 to play. The Volunteers went on a 7-0 run capped by a 3-pointer by Cameron Tatum with 5:35 left.
The closest Villanova could get the rest of the way was five points. Hopson, the tournament MVP, scored on a drive to make it a 7-point game and Goins then stole the ball from Wayns and went in for a breakaway layup.
Tatum had 17 points for the Volunteers while freshman Tobias Harris had 15 points and nine rebounds.
Tennessee, which beat Virginia Commonwealth 77-72 in the semifinals, had a 10-point lead in the first half and led 35-30 at halftime. The Wildcats opened the second half with a 9-2 run to take their first lead of the game.
VILLANOVA CONNECTIONS
UT true freshman Zach Kent and Villanova redshirt sophomore Tim Delaney both played at Blair Academy in Blairstown, New Jersey, in high school. However, the two were not on the same team together, as Kent transferred in as a senior.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee will close out its 2017 regular season schedule against SEC in-state rival Vanderbilt on Saturday at Neyland Stadium. The game will feature a 4 p.m. ET kickoff on SEC Network.
Dave Neal (play-by-play) and Matt Stinchcomb (analyst) will be in the booth and Dawn Davenport will report from the sidelines. Vol Network radio affiliates will have a live audio broadcast with Bob Kesling, Tim Priest, Brent Hubbs and Maddy Glab. Sirius Channel 157 and XM Channel 192 will also carry a live audio broadcast.
Tennessee (4-7, 0-7 SEC) is coming off a 30-10 home loss to LSU on Nov. 18. Redshirt freshman quarterback Jarrett Guarantano completed 13 of 23 passes for 239 yards and one touchdown but the Tigers’ dominance in the running game (LSU’s 200 yards to UT’s 38) proved to be too much.
Last week, Vanderbilt (4-7, 0-7 SEC) suffered a 45-17 home loss to Missouri. Junior quarterback Kyle Shurmur went 28-for-53 for 348 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in the loss.
Tennessee will celebrate Senior Day on Saturday as 22 seniors with make their final appearance at Neyland Stadium. This year’s senior class has combined for 29 wins over the past four seasons. The 2017 seniors led UT to three-consecutive bowl victories, marking the first time in Tennessee program history that had happened. Fans should arrive early to catch the Senior Day ceremony on the field as each senior will hear his name called as he runs through the T for one final time. The Senior Day ceremony will start at approximately 3:53 p.m. ET.
Tennessee-Vanderbilt History
This year’s game marks the 111th all-time meeting between Tennessee and Vanderbilt. UT is 75-30-5 all-time against Vanderbilt and the Vols have won two of the last three matchups. Tennessee is 38-10-1 against the Commodores when the game is played in Knoxville.
UT has won 31 of its last 35 games against Vanderbilt, including a 22-game winning streak in the series from 1983-2004.
In 2016, Vanderbilt took a 45-34 win in Nashville. Last season’s matchup was an offensive showcase as Vanderbilt tallied 608 yards of total offense and Tennessee had 516. UT’s John Kelly carried the ball nine times for 52 yards and Ethan Wolfcaught four passes for 33 yards. Shurmer went 21-for-34 for 416 yards with two touchdowns and one interception and Ralph Webb rushed for 114 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries.
Senior Day
The 22 seniors who will be honored before the game are:
Redshirt senior Kendal Vickers is a three-year starter at defensive tackle, leading the Vols’ defense with 37 starts – all consecutive. Vickers has played in 42 career games, posting 103 tackles (39 solo), 3.0 sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.
Senior Ethan Wolf will cap his career as one of the greatest tight ends in Rocky Top history. He ranks No. 2 among UT tight ends in career receptions (89) and No. 3 in receiving yards (958). He leads the Vols with 46 starts.
Senior offensive lineman Jashon Robertson is a 4-year starter with 45 starts (26 at left guard, 13 at right guard, six at center) under his belt.
Former walk-ons Colton Jumper and Trevor Daniel have been leaders in 2017. Jumper, a linebacker, tops the Vols in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (9.5) and has 17 starts in his career. Daniel is on pace to set the UT record for single-season punting average as he ranks fourth in the nation with 47.3 yards per punt (Tennessee record is 46.9). Daniel’s 45.8-yard career punting average ranks third nationally among active punters and is also the best mark in UT history.
Thanksgiving Team Meal
On Wednesday, Tennessee interim head coach Brady Hoke said that the team will have a morning practice on Thursday and then celebrate Thanksgiving as a team. Hoke said with the team’s families, over 400 people are expected for the meal.
“We are going to be thankful for what we all have and it gives an opportunity for those who possibly couldn’t get somewhere for Thanksgiving to have it with their team,” Hoke said. “I really believe it is part of being a football team. As a head coach, I’ve done this everywhere I’ve been, and so it’s something that I think will be special.”
Hoke added that one of his favorite Thanksgiving side dishes are pumpkin pie and his aunt’s date nut pudding.
Smith Continues Historic Rookie Season
Offensive lineman Trey Smith became the first Vol in the last 30 years to start at left tackle as a true freshman when he started at left tackle against Southern Miss. He started at left tackle against Missouri and LSU as well.
Smith had his best game of the season against an LSU defensive line featuring several future NFL players. Playing on a line that featured only four scholarship players in the second half, the Vols’ freshman had a season-best grade of 84 percent and tallied five knockdowns.
Smith leads the Vols with 53 knockdowns on the year and he is the second-highest graded UT offensive lineman behind only senior Jashon Robertson. He is a candidate for Freshman All-America, All-SEC and All-America honors.
PFF College rates Smith, who was the nation’s No. 1 recruit in the class of 2017 according to ESPN, as its highest-graded overall freshman in the SEC.
Kelly Leads UT in Rushing, Receptions
Junior running back John Kelly (758 rush yards, 36 catches) joins Penn State’s Saquon Barkley (1,057 rush yards, 46 catches) as the only two players in the Power 5 to lead their teams in rushing and receptions.
The four-team field for the 2018 NIT Season Tip-Off was announced 
