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Rick Barnes after Tennessee's 70-52 win at Oklahoma: 'The first half was pretty special'

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•02/09/25•

GrantRamey

Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee Basketball | Andrew Ferguson, Tennessee Athletics
Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee Basketball | Andrew Ferguson, Tennessee Athletics

Tennessee appeared lifeless at halftime Wednesday night, trailing visiting Missouri 34-28 after being down as many as nine points in the first half at Food City Center.

The deficit would swell to 11 points within the first minute of the second half, after two more turnovers for the Vols brought their total to 10.

Then a switch flipped. Tennessee erupted for 31 points over a stretch of just seven minutes, going from down 11 to up 14 and finishing Mizzou off in an 85-81 win. 

The offense followed the fourth-ranked Vols to Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon, where they shot a blistering 69.2% in the first half and made their first five 3-point attempts, leading by as many as 22 points in the first half. 

“We made shots early,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said after the win. “We really put together two — the second half of the Missouri game then here today — maybe two of our best halves offensively all year. And we were able to make shots, which it always goes well when you’re doing that.”

Tennessee shot 60.4% from the field in win at Oklahoma

Tennessee (20-4, 7-4 SEC) finished shooting 60.4% from the field in the 70-52 win at Oklahoma, with the shot-making continuing in the second half while the Vols led by as many as many as 28 points.

The 60.4% was the best the team has shot on the road this season and the third best overall, behind 63.8% against Austin Peay and 60.8% against Montana in a pair of home wins. 

Tennessee shot 56.6% in the 77-55 win at Louisville on November 9. 

The numbers on Saturday helped the Vols move up seven spots, from No. 40 to No. 33, in KenPom.com‘s adjusted offensive efficiency rating, now scoring 117.7 points per 100 possessions. 

Chaz Lanier scored a game-high 21 points, going 9-for-17 from the floor, including a 3-for-3 start from the 3-point line. He scored 13 on 5-for-7 shooting in the first half.

“We got some guys that can make (shots),” Barnes said. “I mean, certainly Chaz has proven he can make some shots. I thought at the end he actually had some better looks and he missed where the ones earlier were contested. 

“I mean, it’s a crazy game sometimes, it really is.” 

Up Next: No. 4 Tennessee at No. 14 Kentucky, Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2

Zakai Zeigler stayed hot, too, with 17 points, nine assists, four rebounds and four steals. After missing the 64-44 win over Florida last Saturday, the senior point guard has 38 points, 17 assists, seven rebounds and the four steals over his last two games. 

“I thought that Zakai has been really good the last couple games,” Barnes said, “where he’s really managed the game well for us. He’s looking for guys when he get going in certain areas.”

Barnes said after the win over Missouri that he could coach until he’s 110 if he could coach made shots. He almost had to repeat himself Saturday in Norman.

“When you’re making shots,” he said, “it looks good even if you’re not playing well … (we were) making those shots again, the first half was pretty special.”

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