KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Chaz Lanier contributed significantly to the game, scoring 18 points as the No. 7 ranked Tennessee Volunteers achieved a dominant 78-35 victory over UT Martin on Wednesday night, extending their unbeaten run to seven games this season.
Felix Okpara also had a notable performance, racking up a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Additional support came from Zakai Zeigler, who notched 11 points along with nine assists, while Igor Milicic helped out with 13 rebounds and added nine points.
For the Skyhawks, Josu Grullon was the standout player, leading the team with 15 points. Lanier was particularly impactful in the first half, scoring 11 points and helping Tennessee to a 35-20 lead by halftime. Grullon managed to contribute 10 points for UT Martin during that timeframe as well.
Reflecting on the game, it’s been a tough stretch for UT Martin, now having lost five in a row after starting the season with two wins under new head coach Jeremy Shulman. With 16 new players on this year’s roster following a season of 21 wins, the Skyhawks are projected to finish 10th in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Tennessee is facing its own challenges, particularly after learning that sophomore J.P. Estrella will be sidelined for the entire season due to a foot injury. This development has forced the Volunteers to reassess their front court rotation, which previously included Estrella coming off the bench alongside Cade Phillips to provide relief for Milicic and Okpara. The adjustments necessary to fill Estrella’s role will be of particular interest moving forward.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred from just before halftime through the early second half, during which Tennessee went on a 14-point scoring run to increase their lead from 10 to 44-20. Zakai Zeigler was instrumental in this stretch, contributing five points during the run.
As for turnovers, UT Martin struggled significantly, turning the ball over 18 times, five of which were shot-clock violations. Tennessee capitalized on this, converting these turnovers into 24 points.
Looking ahead, UT Martin will face Charleston Southern next Tuesday, while Tennessee is set to host Syracuse in the SEC/ACC Challenge on the same day.