NASHVILLE, Tenn. — No. 8 Tennessee advanced in the Southeastern Conference Tournament, defeating Texas 83-72 in the quarterfinals on Friday. The Volunteers had a strong start, led by Chaz Lanier, who scored 17 of their first 21 points. The team never fell behind as they cruised to victory.
With this win, Tennessee, the fourth seed with a 26-6 record, has earned their coach, Rick Barnes, his 832nd career victory. This milestone places him in sole possession of the 10th position on the all-time wins list, surpassing Cliff Ellis. The Volunteers will now face the regular season champions, third-ranked Auburn, who secured a narrow 62-57 win over Ole Miss, in the semifinals on Saturday.
Lanier was instrumental throughout the game, finishing with 23 points. Zakai Zeigler made his presence felt in the second half by scoring all 19 of his points, having limited play in the first half due to foul trouble. Supporting their effort, Jahmai Mashack contributed 13 points, while Igor Milicic Jr. added 12 points.
Texas, with a 19-15 record, entered the SEC Tournament as the 13th seed despite past successes, having won the Big 12 Tournament twice in the last four years. For Texas, Kadin Shedrick and Jordan Pope each tallied 14 points, and Tre Johnson chipped in 11 points. At halftime, Tennessee had a slight edge with a 41-38 lead and expanded it to a 65-50 advantage midway through the second half, capitalizing on Texas’s fatigue as they played their third game in as many days.
The Longhorns came into the tournament amidst a challenging stretch, having lost four of their last five games. They managed to secure two victories in the first rounds, aiming to solidify their chances at an NCAA Tournament bid and support coach Rodney Terry, who faces an uncertain future.
Tennessee’s return to the semifinals marks their first appearance since they claimed the tournament title in 2022 when it was held in Tampa, Florida; a historic win for them since the tournament’s revival in 1979. A pivotal moment in the match saw Mashack’s putback setting the score at 4-all, which marked the final tie in the game.
The Volunteers demonstrated their offensive prowess, particularly in the second half, posting a shooting percentage of 54.5% (12-of-22). With this victory, Tennessee looks poised to challenge Auburn in the forthcoming semifinals, hoping to avenge their narrow two-point road loss to Auburn earlier this season on January 25.
As for Texas, they await the results of Selection Sunday to determine their fate in the NCAA Tournament.
