No. 8 Tennessee and No. 3 Auburn placed on a present within the first of two SEC Event semifinal video games on Saturday.
With clutch free-throw taking pictures and wonderful guard play, the Volunteers held off a late rally from the Tigers, 70-65, to advance to Sunday’s SEC championship sport.
In the one prior assembly of the season between the 2 groups, Tennessee fell in a 53-51 defensive slugfest on Jan. 25. The end result on Saturday couldn’t have gone any higher for the Volunteers.
With the win over Auburn, Tennessee now owns victories over Auburn, Florida and Alabama, who’re all projected to be a one or two-seed within the NCAA Event, in response to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi.
“Each groups performed their hearts out,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said after the sport. “It was a high-level, hard-fought sport each methods. We made a run early. I do not suppose in anyone’s thoughts they have been going to make a run to get again. They’re a superb crew at pressuring to get the ball in late-game conditions.”
Though it took eight fewer photographs and struggled from lengthy vary (5-of-19), Tennessee made Auburn pay for its 21 dedicated fouls. Whereas Auburn was held to 13-of-22 from the foul line, Tennessee was 25-of-27, which proved extraordinarily beneficial.
Tennessee’s guard play was additionally on full show. Senior Zakai Zeigler (20 factors, 5-of-11 FG) was an ideal 9-of-9 from the charity stripe and dished out 4 assists.
The ball motion was very good on this drive, with Zeigler discovering senior Chaz Lanier within the nook earlier than sophomore Cade Phillips completed the possession below the basket.
This assured jumper from the highest of the important thing was the one made three of the sport for Zeigler. Nevertheless, it gave Tennessee a commanding 60-49 lead with simply over seven minutes to play.
Tennessee’s protection held Auburn to 41.8% taking pictures and a brutal 6-of-21 from deep. Aside from Nationwide Participant of the 12 months contender Johni Broome (23 factors, 9-of-13 FG), nobody else had greater than 13.
Auburn (28-5, 15-3 SEC) could have gained the SEC regular-season title, however three losses in its final 4 video games should not ideally suited heading into the NCAA Event. That mentioned, two of these three losses have been to high 10 opponents. The Tigers could also be leaving Nashville early, however there may be nonetheless so much to love about one of many high Nationwide Championship contenders within the nation.
Tennessee (27-6, 12-6 SEC) — winner of three straight — heads into the SEC Championship sport towards the winner of Florida-Alabama. With an eight-rebound benefit (35-27) on Saturday and the flexibility to persistently knock down free throws, the Volunteers did all the correct issues nicely towards the Tigers, which is a should this time of yr.
Some late turnovers have been a problem, however Tennessee appears to be getting scorching on the proper time, which is all you possibly can ask for in March.
