Despite dominant numbers, No. 5 Tennessee has to hold off LSU

Field Level Media|published: Tue 25th February, 23:47 2025

Feb 22, 2025; College Station, Texas, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes reacts during the first half against the Texas A&M Aggies at Reed Arena. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Zakai Zeigler scored 17 points and Felix Okpara had 15 to lead a balanced scoring effort as No. 5 Tennessee held off LSU 65-59 on Tuesday night in Baton Rouge, La.

Chaz Lanier added 14 points and nine rebounds for the Volunteers (23-5, 10-5 Southeastern Conference), who won for the sixth time in seven games after enjoying advantages of 44-28 in rebounds, 27-8 in second-chance points and 32-20 in points in the paint.

Vyctorius Miller scored 17 points and Cam Carter added 12 to lead the Tigers (14-14, 3-12).

Tennessee scored the first five points of the second half to start a 13-5 run that produced a 39-28 lead. Lanier made a 3-pointer and Okpara and Zeigler each had a three-point play during the spurt.

Curtis Givens III scored five points and Carter added a three-point play to help the Tigers close within five points at 43-38. The Tigers got within five two more times before Zeigler made two field goals and Lanier added a 3-pointer during an 11-2 run that gave the Volunteers a 58-44 lead.

LSU got within 12 points twice before Zeigler made a layup with 2:29 left. Miller made a jumper and Carter added two free throws to get LSU within 10 with 1:26 left. Later, Zeigler turned the ball over and Givens made a 3-pointer to trim the lead to 63-56 with 46 seconds left.

Lanier made one of two free-throw attempts and the Tigers made three to get within five points with 12 seconds left but could get no closer.

The lead changed hands four times and the score was tied four times before the Volunteers took a 15-12 lead. Mike Williams III made a layup to get the Tigers within one, but Jahmai Mashack made a 3-pointer and Okpara added a layup and a dunk to give Tennessee a 22-14 lead.

Daimion Collins made a jumper to end a nearly seven-minute scoring drought for LSU and the Tigers crept within five points before Zeigler made a 3-pointer to make it 26-18 in favor of Tennessee with 2:13 left before the break. Collins answered with a 3-pointer that trimmed the lead to 26-23 at halftime.

--Field Level Media