Tennessee trailed for 35:48 in a 50-minute, two overtime basketball game that went on for three hours and two minutes. But the Vols found a way, surviving a poor performance to defeat Texas A&M 87-82 on Tuesday night in Knoxville.
Here’s three quick takeaways on the victory.
A Disoriented Offensive Performance
Coming off perhaps its worst performance of the season at Florida, Tennessee came out flat and disoriented. The Vols turned it over twice in the game’s first 2:34 while Texas A&M built an 8-0 lead out the gates. That set the tone for the game.
There were no shortage of issues for Tennessee. They turned the ball over eight times in the first half with all coming in the first 13:03 of game time. Tennessee twice turned the ball over on five-second violations against the Aggies’ press.
When Tennessee did beat the press and got shots off, they looked discombobulated. They were unorganized offensively and too often settled into Ja’Kobi Gillespie having to play in a ball screen with others standing around the perimeter.
The offensive inconsistencies kept them from ever sustaining too much success and overcoming the early deficit.
Rebounding Was Tennessee’s Saving Grace
As bad as Tennessee struggled for most of the night defensively, the Vols remained in the game because of their defense and rebounding.
Texas A&M plays a small lineup so it can optimize its press. Tennessee struggled to take advantage with interior post scoring but they did a good job of controlling the glass. The Vols grabbed 24 offensive rebounds and turned it into 22 points. Tennessee rebounded 48.9% of its misses while Texas A&M rebounded just 21.7% of its misses.
Then with Tennessee trailing 71-69 and 13 seconds remaining, Nate Ament went one-of-two at the line. But Bishop Boswell got the rebound and drew a foul. Boswell also went one-of-two and again Tennessee got the rebound.
Overall, the Vols earned a 60-35 rebounding advantage. Their ability to control the glass was how they won despite turning the ball over 19 times and making seven fewer three-pointers than the Aggies.
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Tennessee Struggled To Get Over The Hump
Tennessee trailed from the jump and by as many as 11 points, but they were consistently in striking distance and close to flipping the game and taking the lead. Yet Tennessee was just unable to get over the hump and sustain success for much of the night.
In the first half, Tennessee tied the game at 15 and pulled within one at 31-30. Both times Texas A&M answered with a three-pointer on the ensuing possession. In the second half, Tennessee tied the game at 41 after a 9-0 run. Texas A&M’s Pop Isaacs immediately made a contested triple over Bishop Boswell.
Ja’Kobi Gillespie went to the line to shoot the bonus and with a chance to tie the game at 48. The 89% free throw shooter missed the front end. Texas A&M stretched the lead back to five points with a triple on the ensuing possession.
Even when Tennessee finally took the lead at 57-55, Texas A&M immediately answered with a three-pointer to reclaim the lead. A Ja’Kobi Gillespie and-one to take a one-point lead with 2:53 to play? Rylan Grffin answered with a triple.
In the first overtime, Tennessee had the ball with three chances to extend its lead to two scores but was unable to do so each time. The Vols did not have a two-score lead until a Jaylen Care put back gave them an 83-79 advantage with 1:14 to play in overtime.
Box Score
Up Next
Tennessee basketball is back in action Saturday when they’ll face rival Kentucky at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center. Tipoff as at noon ET and ESPN is broadcasting the game.
