Tennessee 76, Vanderbilt 73 (OT): Josh Richardson scored five of his 27 points in overtime, and the visiting Volunteers got a game-tying, buzzer-beating layup from Robert Hubbs III at the end of regulation to help knock off the Commodores.
Armani Moore added 13 points and Derek Reese had 12 for Tennessee (14-9, 6-5 SEC), which had lost four of its previous five games. The Volunteers, who also received 10 points from Kevin Punter and nine points and seven rebounds from Hubbs, hit 8-of-21 from 3-point range and took advantage of Vanderbilt’s 17-of-30 struggles from the free-throw line.
Damian Jones had 16 points and nine rebounds, and James Siakam added 14 for Vanderbilt (13-11, 3-8), which had won two straight. Jeff Roberson chipped in 12 points for the Commodores, who shot 49 percent from the field and owned a 35-29 rebounding advantage, but saw second-leading scorer Riley LaChance finish with six points on 1-of-8 shooting.
Richardson hit a 3-pointer as the shot clock was expiring to give Tennessee a 70-67 advantage a minute into overtime before Jones and Siakam answered with back-to-back buckets in close to put the hosts up 73-72. But Vanderbilt then had a turnover and a missed LaChance 3-pointer sandwiched around a pair of Punter free throws, and Richardson’s offensive rebound and free throws with 8.6 seconds remaining preceded another LaChance long-range miss in the waning seconds.
Tennessee, which led 35-32 at the half, still held a 51-47 advantage with 9:58 to play in regulation when a Matthew Fisher-Davis 3-pointer ignited an 8-0 Vanderbilt run to put the hosts on top 55-51 with 6:26 to play. The Commodores held a 61-56 lead with 2:40 to go but only hit four of eight free throws down the stretch, setting up Hubbs’ game-tying, length-of-the-floor drive just before the horn.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Tennessee has won seven of the last nine in the series. … During the last 10 seasons, Tennessee is 43-13 against in-state competition. … Vanderbilt will get a chance for revenge when the two teams meet again Feb. 26 in Knoxville.
Tennessee | Vanderbilt | |
Josh Richardson 27 | Scoring | Damian Jones 16 |
Josh Richardson 4 | Assists | Wade Baldwin IV 7 |
Derek Reese 8 | Rebounds | Damian Jones 9 |
Josh Richardson 4 | Free Throws Made | Damian Jones 4 |
Armani Moore 2 | Steals | Wade Baldwin IV 2 |
Armani Moore 2 | Blocks | James Siakam 3 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Tennessee | 76 | 47.5 | 8-21 | 10-13 | 12 | 28 | 5 | 8 | 13 |
Vanderbilt | 73 | 49.0 | 6-17 | 17-30 | 16 | 32 | 6 | 7 | 16 |