COLLEGE STATION, TX – Chaz Lanier’s hot shooting led the Tennessee Volunteers to a 77-69 road win over the Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday at Reed Arena.
Lanier, a senior guard, scored a season-high 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting from the field, including 4-of-7 from three-point range. He also added 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals in 35 minutes of action.
“Chaz was incredible tonight,” said Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes. “He made some big shots for us, and his defense was outstanding. He’s a guy who can take over a game, and he did that tonight.”
The Vols (20-4, 9-2 SEC) got off to a strong start, building a 10-point lead in the first half. However, the Aggies (18-6, 7-4 SEC) fought back to tie the game at 35-35 at halftime.
In the second half, the Vols used a 10-2 run to build a 55-47 lead with 12:45 remaining. The Aggies cut the deficit to 3 points with 2:30 left, but Lanier scored 5 straight points to put the Vols up 75-67 with 1:15 remaining.
Texas A&M’s Wade Taylor IV scored on a layup with 1:00 left to cut the deficit to 75-69, but the Vols’ Josiah-Jordan James made 2 free throws with 34 seconds left to seal the win.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game, but our guys showed a lot of heart and determination,” said Barnes. “We made some big plays down the stretch, and our defense was outstanding. It was a great team effort.”
The Vols’ win was their fifth straight, and it marked their first win at Reed Arena since 2014. Tennessee also improved to 5-2 against ranked opponents this season.
“We’re proud of our guys for the way they played tonight,” said Barnes. “We knew it was going to be a challenge, but they rose to the occasion. We’re looking forward to getting back home and preparing for our next game.”
In addition to Lanier’s 30 points, the Vols got 15 points and 7 rebounds from James, and 12 points and 5 rebounds from Olivier Nkamhoua.
Taylor IV led the Aggies with 22 points, while Julius Marble added 18 points and 7 rebounds.
The win marked the Vols’ first road win over a top-10 team since 2018, and it was their first win over the Aggies since 2020.
“We’re proud of our guys for the way they played tonight,” said Barnes. “It was a great team effort, and we’re looking forward to building on this win.”
The Vols will return to action on Wednesday, hosting the Vanderbilt Commodores at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Lanier’s performance was a testament to his hard work and dedication to the team. He has been one of the Vols’ most consistent players this season, and his 30-point effort was a career-high.
“Chaz has been working hard all season, and it’s great to see him have a game like this,” said Barnes. “He’s a great player, and we’re lucky to have him on our team.”
The Vols’ win over the Aggies was a significant statement win for the program. It marked their fifth straight win, and it showed that they are a force to be reckoned with in the SEC.
“We’re proud of our guys for the way they played tonight,” said Barnes. “We knew it was going to be a tough game, but they showed a lot of heart and determination. We’re looking forward to building on this win and making a run in the tournament.”
With the win, the Vols moved into sole possession of second place in the SEC standings, just one game behind first-place Alabama.
“We’re in a great position right now, but we know that we can’t let up,” said Barnes. “We’ve got to keep playing well and taking care of business if we want to achieve our goals.”
The Vols will look to continue their winning streak on Wednesday against Vanderbilt. Tipoff is set for 7:00 PM ET at Thompson-Boling Arena.
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