Fast Break: Tennessee advances to the SEC tourney finals after 70-65 win over Auburn
NASHVILLE — On Friday, the SEC Tournament went chalk meaning the top four seeds would square off in the semifinals. So it was Tennessee and Auburn in a Final Four caliber match up and game.
The Vols used grit, toughness, and a big pay day at the free throw line to beat the No. 1 seeded Tigers 70-65 to advance to the SEC Tournament championship.
Tennessee was a 25 of 27 at the free throw line for the game going 18 for 20 in the second half after the Vols got into the bonus with 13 minutes to play. Auburn only had 5 fewer attempts, but they make 12 fewer free throws and that ultimately was the scoring difference in the game.
Senior Zakai Zeigler, who again battled foul trouble, led the way with 20 points and 4 assists.
Chaz Lanier scored 12 points with 10 coming in the first 7 minutes of the game. Jordan Gainey had 15. Gainey and Zeigler combined to go 17 for 17 at the free throw line.
Felix Okpara didn’t score but led the way with 9 rebounds as the Vols out rebounded the Tigers by 8 (35-27).
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How good was the game? It was tied 8 different times and had 18 different lead changes.
For more on the win that sends Tennessee into the SEC Tournament finals, Rob Lewis and Grant Ramey have the Fast Break.
Up Next: The SEC Tournament championship game; Selection Sunday
Tennessee now advances to face either No. 2 Florida or No. 3 Alabama in Sunday’s SEC Tournament championship game.
It’s the fourth SEC Tournament title game appearance for the Vols during the Rick Barnes era. They won the 2022 SEC Tournament in Tampa, lost in 2019 to Auburn in Nashville and lost in 2018 to Kentucky in St. Louis.
Tennessee beat Florida 64-44 on February 1 at Food City Center and lost 73-43 at Florida on January 7. The Vols beat Alabama 79-76 on March 1 in Knoxville on Jahmai Mashack’s 35-foot buzzer-beater, erasing what was a four-point Alabama lead with 35 seconds left.
