Knoxville, Tennessee — Chaz Lanier led the way for the top-ranked Tennessee Volunteers with an impressive 19-point performance, guiding the team to an overwhelming 84-36 victory over Western Carolina on a Tuesday evening.

With this win, Tennessee improved their season record to 11-0, marking an achievement that ties them for the third-best start in the school’s basketball history. Jordan Gainey contributed significantly with 17 points, while Darlinstone Dubar added 13. Zakai Zeigler came close to a triple-double, finishing the game with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists.

On the other side, the Western Carolina Catamounts, now sitting at 3-7, faced challenges on the offensive front after initially taking a 9-3 lead in the early moments of the match. Bernard Pelote was the standout player for the Catamounts, scoring 10 points throughout the game.

For Western Carolina, the season has featured several tough losses against teams like Florida State and Marquette, alongside a commendable performance against Wake Forest. However, this latest encounter showcased a formidable challenge, and the team is looking forward to starting their Southern Conference season against Furman on New Year’s Day.

Tennessee has made defensive strategy a focal point this season, aiming to keep opponents to a maximum of 64 points. Up until this game, they have succeeded in limiting nine out of their eleven opponents to that threshold, with only Syracuse and Austin Peay scoring above it.

An important turning point in the match occurred when Tennessee, initially trailing at 9-3, launched a remarkable 35-6 run to finish the first half, sealing a dominant 38-15 lead at the break.

A noteworthy statistic from the game highlighted Western Carolina’s reliance on long-range shots. Heading into the matchup against Tennessee, the Catamounts averaged 30 attempts from beyond the arc. During the first half, they took 28 three-pointers and scored all 15 of their points through these shots. However, their shooting was far from effective, managing only 17.9% accuracy (5 of 28) in the first half. Over the entire game, they set a season-high with 39 three-point attempts but converted just 15.4% (6 made).

Looking ahead, Western Carolina will host Milligan this Thursday, while Tennessee will face Middle Tennessee State at home on the following Monday.