NASSAU, Bahamas — Chaz Lanier delivered an impressive performance with 26 points, while Igor Milicic Jr. contributed 14 points and eight rebounds against his previous team, leading No. 11 Tennessee to a decisive 64-42 victory over Virginia during the Baha Mar Championship on Thursday night.

The game was tightly contested at halftime, with Virginia’s Andrew Rohde landing a long-range three-pointer that cut Tennessee’s lead to just 22-21 as the teams headed into the locker room.

After the intermission, Tennessee took command of the game, capitalizing on Virginia’s missed shots and turnovers to create a significant gap.

Dai Dai Ames was the top scorer for the Cavaliers, finishing with 12 points, while Rohde added eight. However, Virginia struggled offensively, recording a shooting percentage of only 28.6%. Tennessee was especially effective in limiting star player Isaac McKneely, who managed just four points on a 1-for-6 shooting performance.

**Key Takeaways**

Virginia faced its first significant challenge under the interim leadership of Ron Sanchez, and while their careful offensive execution and strong defensive efforts kept the game competitive initially, they eventually fell short against a more powerful opponent in the second half.

For Tennessee, the team overcame a lackluster first half and stepped up their physical presence after the break. They outperformed Virginia in second-chance points, scoring 19 to UVA’s 5, and recorded eight steals, leveraging their size and athletic capability to dominate the court.

**Turning Point**

A crucial moment came early in the second half when Tennessee launched a 9-0 run, converted largely due to three turnovers made by Virginia. This surge increased the lead to 37-24 with 13:06 left in the game, sealing the outcome despite Virginia’s attempts to stay competitive.

**Stat of Interest**

While Virginia’s struggle with shooting was a significant factor, their 18 turnovers proved even more detrimental, resulting in 30 points for Tennessee.

**Looking Ahead**

Tennessee is set to face Baylor in the championship match on Friday at 9:30 p.m., while Virginia will take on St. John’s in the consolation game earlier that day at 7:30 p.m.