Madison Square Garden, NY— No. 1 Tennessee overcame a late challenge from Miami to secure a 75-62 victory at the Jimmy V Classic in Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night. Chaz Lanier led the Volunteers with 22 points, while Igor Milicic Jr. contributed 16 points and nine rebounds. Zakai Zeigler added 13 points and nine assists as Tennessee extended its perfect start to the season, moving to 9-0 for the first time since the 2000-01 campaign.
The Volunteers, who earned the top spot in the AP Top 25 this week for the first time since February 2019, gradually pulled away late in the first half and held off a Miami comeback attempt.
For Miami (3-8), Lynn Kidd led the way with 14 points, but the Hurricanes fell to their seventh consecutive defeat. Nyjel Pack added 12 points, while AJ Station-McCray scored 11. Miami struggled from the floor, shooting just 39.3% for the game.
The Hurricanes briefly held a two-point advantage after Kidd’s hook shot with 7:52 remaining in the first half. However, Tennessee responded with a 14-0 run, sparked by Zeigler hitting three free throws shortly after, and never trailed again.
Key Takeaways
- Tennessee: The Volunteers showcased why they are the top-ranked team, cruising to their ninth consecutive double-digit win.
- Miami: The Hurricanes showed early promise, hitting four of their first seven three-pointers, but ultimately struggled, finishing just 8 of 33 from beyond the arc.
Key Moment
After Miami trimmed the deficit to 63-56 with 5:36 left, Milicic answered with a timely three-pointer, and Lanier followed with a quick layup to push the lead back to double digits, securing the win for Tennessee.
Key Stat
Tennessee connected on 10 three-pointers, marking their third straight game with 10 or more made threes and their fifth game this season with double-digit three-point performances.
Looking Ahead
Tennessee will look to maintain its unbeaten record as they visit Illinois on Saturday. Miami, meanwhile, will return home to face Presbyterian on Sunday.
