NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Chaz Lanier poured in 23 points to help No. 8 University of Tennessee roll past the University of Texas at Austin 83-72 Friday. The Vols advance to the SEC Tournament semifinals and will face top-seeded Auburn University Saturday.
Tennessee’s offense was clicking on all cylinders. The Vols shot 50% from the field with the nearly half of the scoring coming in the paint. Tennessee tallied 36 points down low.
Lanier carried the offense in the first half. The senior had 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Tennessee held a 41-38 at the break after shooting 47% from the field. The Vols’ defense left a lot to be desired. The Longhorns went 15-for-27 from the field and shot 50% from beyond the arc.
Zakai Zeigler tallied 19 point and 6 assists while Igor Milicic chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds. Jahmai Mashack had a season-high 13 points and played a big part in limiting SEC Freshman of the Year and projected NBA lottery pick Tre Johnson to 11 points on 3-of-8 shooting.
The postseason opener also saw Zeigler set a program record for most assists in a single season.
UP NEXT: The Vols will face the third-ranked Auburn Tigers in Bridgestone at noon on Saturday, March 15.
