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Fast-Break: Tennessee's season end in disappointing performance

On3 imageby:Brent Hubbs•03/30/25•

Brent_Hubbs

Tennessee Fast Break
Credit: On3 Staff

INDIANAPOLIS — Tennessee’s season came to a crashing end. Losing in the Elite Eight is painful as your year abruptly ends just one step from college basketball’s promised land. However being in the Elite 8 is also a great accomplishment. Tennessee’s 69-50 loss to Houston puts plenty of sting in that achievement. 

To beat the top-seeded Cougars the Vols were going to have to play well. And they didn’t well at all.

Tennessee was abysmal on offense the first 20 minutes of the game digging a 19 point hole that they never got out of. 

The Vols shot a dreadful 1 of 15 from the three point line in the first 20 minutes and made just 6 field goals. Tennessee scored just 15 first half points. 

Tennessee’s offense picked up in the second half but defensively, they couldn’t get enough stops. They did cut the lead to 10 with 5:42 to play, but the Houston closed on a 19-10 run making three straight threes preventing the Vols from getting the lead to single digits. In fact Houston slammed the door on any comeback thoughts by making 6 of their last 8 shots from the field.

Jordan Gainey lead the way with 17 points. Gainey was 6 of 12 from the floor. Chaz Lanier also scored 17 but he had a rough day going just 4 of 18 from the field and just 2 of 12 from the three point line. In fact, Tennessee’s back court of Lanier and Zeigler were just 5 of 27 combined and just 3 of 18 beyond the three point line. 

For Tennessee to have a chance to win, they need more than 22 combined points from them. Tennessee couldn’t force turnovers and got nothing easy. Houston had 10 points off turnovers to just two for Tennessee. The Cougars also had 19 second chance points to Tennessee’s 8.

Now Tennessee turns their attention to roster management which will be a serious run at roster acquisition from the transfer portal which opened last Monday. 

For more on the Vols loss and season Rob Lewis and Grant Ramey have the Fast Break.

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