Texas A&M’s struggles to contain Tennessee’s shooting proved costly as the Volunteers secured a hard-fought 77-69 win over the Aggies.
Chaz Lanier was the star of the show, scoring a season-high 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting from the field, including 4-of-7 from three-point range ¹.
The Volunteers got off to a strong start, building a 10-point lead in the first half. However, the Aggies fought back to tie the game at 35-35 at halftime. In the second half, Tennessee used a 10-2 run to build a 55-47 lead with 12:45 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 Volunteers’ Josiah-Jordan James made 2 free throws with 34 seconds left to seal the win.
Tennessee’s win marked their fifth straight, and it was their first win at Reed Arena since 2014. The Volunteers also improved to 5-2 against ranked opponents this season.
The Aggies’ loss was a disappointing one, as they struggled to contain Tennessee’s shooting. Texas A&M’s defense had been stout all season, but they were unable to stop the Volunteers’ hot shooting.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game, but our guys showed a lot of heart and determination,” said Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes. “We made some big plays down the stretch, and our defense was outstanding. It was a great team effort.”
The Volunteers’ win 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.
Tennessee’s Chaz Lanier was the star of the show, scoring a season-high 30 points. His hot shooting was the difference-maker in the game, as the Volunteers were able to pull away from the Aggies in the second half.
“Chaz was incredible tonight,” said 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 Aggies’ loss was a tough one to swallow, as they had been playing well all season. However, they were unable to contain Tennessee’s shooting, and it cost them the game.
“We’re disappointed with the loss, but we’re proud of our guys for the way they played,” said Texas A&M head coach Buzz Williams. “We knew it was going to be a tough game, but we didn’t make enough plays down the stretch. We’ll learn from this and move on.”
The Volunteers will look to continue their winning streak on Wednesday, hosting the Vanderbilt Commodores at Thompson-Boling Arena.
In the meantime, the Aggies will look to regroup and refocus after a tough loss. They’ll face a tough test on Saturday, hosting the Arkansas Razorbacks at Reed Arena.
*Game Stats:*
– Tennessee: Chaz Lanier (30 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists), Josiah-Jordan James (15 points, 7 rebounds), Olivier Nkamhoua (12 points, 5 rebounds)
– Texas A&M: Wade Taylor IV (22 points, 5 rebounds), Julius Marble (18 points, 7 rebounds)
*Game Highlights:*
– Chaz Lanier’s 30-point performance
– Tennessee’s 10-2 run in the second half
– Josiah-Jordan James’ 2 free throws with 34 seconds left to seal the win
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