Editor’s note: adjust the first two graphs; changes to “Victor” in the third graph
Tennessee Volunteers’ eighth place started their game against South Carolina on Wednesday looking to post their third consecutive 100-point game. They ended up needing a late spike to keep their perfect record intact.
Lacking their long-range firing, the Volunteers exhibited their usual defensive stinginess by moving away late and defeating the troublesome Spartans by 80-60 in Knoxville, Tenn.
Victor Bailey Jr. had 18 points, two steals and three rebounds for Tennessee (6-0), while Josiah-Jordan James had 11 points and eight rebounds. John Fulkerson added 10 points and six rebounds to a Vols team that made just 5 of 16 attempts at 3 points.
Tennessee also had a big advantage around the basket at both ends of the court – they had a 32-18 rebound advantage and overtook upstate South Carolina by 38-22 in the paint.
In addition, Tennessee forced 15 turnovers.
South Carolina Upstate (0-8) did most of its damage in the attack through a 3-point shot. The Spartans were 9 out of 18 beyond the arc.
The Big South Conference Spartans were led by Tommy Bruner by 18 points, 12 of them out of three. Everette Hammond added 13 points.
Tennessee was cold from the start and went into the break with a 33-26 lead. The Vols were better in the second half, but the Spartans kept things interesting.
With 10:46 remaining for the second half, Tennessee’s advantage was just eight points, but from then on the Vols moved away. They made 16 of their last 18 goal attempts.
The win was the 715th in the career of coach Rick Barnes – just four less than equalizing Phog Allen and Don Haskins in 20th place on the First Division winning list of all time.
Tennessee will now take a week off before hitting the road for the first time this season, where it will visit the 14th ranked Missouri Tigers on Wednesday at the opening of the Southeast Conference for both teams.
South Carolina Upstate will also have a week off before facing Big South Foe High Point in consecutive games next Wednesday and Thursday.
– Field-level media