NASHVILLE, Tn. — Vanderbilt basketball hit a number of tough shots and Tennessee offered some sloppy turnovers and poor shooting in the first half. The Commodores led by as many as nine points int he final minute of the first half.
Then Dalton Knecht did what he’s done so often this season, dominating in the second half as Tennessee took control of the game and coasted to a 75-62 victory.
Here are three quick takeaways.
A Poor First Half From Tennessee
As 13.5-point favorites, Tennessee wanted to come out fast early and take control of the game and not give the underdogs any momentum. Things didn’t work out that way.
Vanderbilt scored the game’s first four points and scored on its first three possessions which set the tone for the rest of the evening.
The game’s first 10 minutes were back-and-forth with neither team creating much separation. When JP Estrella grabbed an offensive rebound and scored with 6:22 left in the first half it looked like Tennessee was about to gain control and run away with the game.
But then Estrella got switched onto Vanderbilt star Tyrin Lawrence. Lawrence beat him off the dribble and an ill advised reach led to a Lawrence and-one. It was the turning point in the first half.
The three-point play sparked a 9-0 Vanderbilt run that gave the Commodores the lead. When the officials assessed Rick Barnes a technical foul and Ezra Manyon made all four free throws to give Vanderbilt a 35-26 lead, it marked an extended 17-3 run.
Tennessee scored the half’s final four points which helped get them in narrow striking distance at halftime. But either way, it was a poor first half for the Vols.
A Low Possession Game
Much like Vanderbilt did last season in its upset win over Tennessee, the Commodores ran an abundance of shot clock on nearly every possession to shorten the game. They did it successfully.
Tennessee scored only 75 points but actually totaled an extremely efficient 1.293 points per possessions.
The Vols struggled to push the game’s pace in large part because Vanderbilt took good care of the basketball. The Commodores turned it over just two times in the first half and seven times over the course of the game.
Rick Barnes praised Vanderbilt’s backcourt on Friday and Ezra Manjon and Tyrin Lawrence killed Tennessee in late shot clock situations including on a number of very difficult midrange jumpers. Those late shot clock buckets were integral in Vanderbilt building its first half lead.
Dalton Knecht Does It Again
With Tennessee struggling they turned to the guy that’s been its difference maker this season: Dalton Knecht.
Knecht was good in the first half scoring 11 points and finding a way to get to the basket and have success. But like has been the case so often on the road this season, Knecht’s first half was just an appetizer.
After scoring two of Tennessee’s first 10 points in the second half, Knecht is exploded. The super senior wing scored the Vols’ next 12 points. The final triple gave Tennessee a lead that it wouldn’t relinquish.
It was the first three points of what became a 10-0 run which gave the Vols’ a 10-point lead. The back half of the “kill shot” run came with Knecht on the bench. It was the latest example of Tennessee struggling on the offensive end, Knecht hitting some big shots and just loosening everybody else up.
Knecht ended the game with 32 points on 13-of-21 shooting while adding six rebounds, three blocks and three assists. He was once again the star of the show.
Final Stats
Up Next
Tennessee returns to Knoxville on Tuesday night where they’ll face South Carolina at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. ET and the SEC Network is broadcasting the game.
