NORMAN, Okla. — Chaz Lanier led the way for Tennessee with 21 points, while Zakai Zeigler contributed 17 as the No. 4 ranked Volunteers triumphed over Oklahoma with a score of 70-52 on Saturday, marking the teams’ first clash in 56 years.
Tennessee (20-4, 7-4 in the Southeastern Conference) established a commanding lead right from the start, hitting an impressive 14 of their first 16 attempts, including a perfect 5-for-5 from beyond the arc. The Volunteers finished the game with a shooting percentage of 60%, holding a 20-point advantage at halftime and extending it to 28 points with just over five minutes left in the contest.
For the Sooners (16-7, 3-7), Jalon Moore scored 12 points, and Bryce Goodine added nine. This match marked the second consecutive loss for Oklahoma against a top-five team, following three wins in their previous four games. Jeremiah Fears chipped in with eight points, but the Sooners struggled offensively, shooting just 32% (17-of-53) from the field.
Defensively, Tennessee’s Felix Okpara was a standout, contributing to four of the team’s eight blocked shots.
In terms of takeaways, Oklahoma was unable to provide adequate support in the paint against Tennessee’s formidable frontcourt, finishing with only 20 paint points compared to Tennessee’s 26. On the other hand, the Volunteers showcased their dominance on both ends, converting 29 out of 48 shot attempts while limiting Oklahoma to a mere 26% (6-of-23) from three-point range.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Jeremiah Fears scored a layup, narrowing the deficit to 19-14 for Oklahoma. However, Tennessee responded with a powerful 26-11 run, concluding the first half with a commanding 45-25 lead.
One of the most notable statistics from the game was that Tennessee, the SEC leader in scoring defense, allowed Oklahoma to score only 25 points in the first half, a season low for the Sooners. Tennessee maintained their defensive prowess into the second half, holding Oklahoma without a field goal for a span of 6:30.
Looking ahead, Oklahoma will travel to face No. 15 Missouri on Wednesday, while Tennessee is set to face No. 14 Kentucky on Tuesday.
