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Tennessee’s offense was unstoppable in Lexington on Saturday night.
The No. 5 Vols defeated No. 10 Kentucky 103-92, handing the Wildcats their second consecutive home defeat. This was the first time all season that Kentucky has given up more than 100 points in a game.
road w pic.twitter.com/PlAQGgqw7P
— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) February 4, 2024
While Dalton Knecht has been Tennessee’s best offensive player so far this season, he had a relatively quiet night against the Wildcats. Knecht was held in-check with just 16 points, but teammates Zakai Zeigler and Josiah-Jordan James more than picked up the slack.
Zeigler and James scored 26 points each to lead the Vols in scoring. Overall, all 5 Tennessee starters scored in double figures. As a team, Tennessee shot over 48% from the field and 40% from 3-point range. Zeigler also added in 13 assists.
Tennessee’s offensive outburst erased a massive game from Kentucky freshman Rob Dillingham. He poured in 35 points off the bench as he tried to keep the Wildcats in the game. Antonio Reeves and Reed Sheppard added in 21 and 16, respectively.
Kentucky’s issue in this game was on the defensive end of the floor. The Vols averaged a staggering 1.39 points per possession en route to this win. Tennessee also won the rebounding battle, 47-40 and picked up 21 offensive boards.
The win means Tennessee is now 6-2 in SEC play and still firmly in the mix atop the league standings. Alabama is in 1st place with an 8-1 record. South Carolina and Auburn are also both ahead of the Vols currently at 7-2.
Tennessee will return back home to Knoxville to face LSU on Wednesday.
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Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
