KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — In a thrilling season opener on Monday evening, the No. 12 Tennessee Volunteers secured an 80-64 victory over Gardner-Webb, with Chaz Lanier contributing 18 points and Jordan Gainey adding 16 to the scoreboard.
Zakai Zeigler also played a significant role, notching 13 points and dishing out nine assists, while Jahmai Mashack contributed 10 points. On the boards, Felix Okpara emerged as the standout, leading the team in rebounds with nine.

For Gardner-Webb, Darryl Simmons led the charge, scoring an impressive 22 points, while teammates Anthony Selden and Jamaine Mann each chipped in with 13 points. Despite the loss, Gardner-Webb demonstrated strength in rebounding, edging out Tennessee 32-29, with Isaiah Richards grabbing eight rebounds.

Notably, this game marked the debut of Coach Jeremy Luther at the helm of Gardner-Webb, who will focus on integrating five new players into the team’s rotation as the season unfolds. Meanwhile, the Volunteers, who faced a tough loss to Indiana in the preseason, found their shooting form, significantly improving from their earlier performance where they shot 24% in the first half and a total of 31% throughout the game.

A pivotal moment came midway through the first half when Tennessee held a narrow three-point lead. The Volunteers ignited a strong response, launching a 12-3 run that would solidify a double-digit lead, headlined by Lanier’s consecutive eight points.

Statistically, Gardner-Webb’s 34 points in the paint stood out against a physically imposing Tennessee front line. The Volunteers appeared to lag in several defensive exchanges, indicating an area for improvement as the season progresses.

Looking ahead, Gardner-Webb will travel to North Carolina Central for their next contest on Friday, while Tennessee is set to face Louisville on Saturday.