No. 5 Tennessee pins No. 22 Ole Miss with first loss of season

Jonas Aidoo had 24 points and 10 rebounds and No. 5 Tennessee defeated No. 22 Ole Miss 90-64 on Saturday in Knoxville, Tenn., in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams.

The Rebels (13-1) took their first loss of the season.

Zakai Zeigler had 17 points and 10 assists, Santiago Vescovi scored 11 points and Jahmai Mashack chipped in 10 points off the bench for the Volunteers (11-3), who won their seventh consecutive game. Tennessee's bench outscored the Rebels' reserves 22-10.

Jaemyn Brakefield scored 22 points, Jaylen Murray had 11 points and eight rebounds and Allen Flanigan scored 10 points to lead Ole Miss, which saw its program-record-tying winning streak come to an end.

The Volunteers (11 treys) made five more 3-pointers than the Rebels (six) and finished with 25 assists on 34 made field goals. Tennessee also enjoyed a 47-24 rebounding advantage.

Dalton Knecht made a free throw and Zeigler added a 3-pointer to start the second-half scoring and extend the Volunteers' lead to 13 points.

Flanigan converted a three-point play before Tennessee went on a 12-2 run to take a 56-36 lead with 15:28 left in the game.

Brandon Murray made a layup for Ole Miss, but the Volunteers scored the next seven points to take command with a 25-point cushion.

The score was tied twice and the lead changed hands twice in the first five minutes before the Rebels went cold.

Tobe Awaka converted a three-point play, Jordan Gainey made a 3-pointer and Aidoo made a pair of layups during a 12-0 run that gave the hosts an 18-6 lead.

Ole Miss went scoreless for over five minutes before Matthew Murrell ended the drought with a dunk, and Brakefield supplied five points as the Rebels trimmed their deficit to 18-15.

Tennessee rebuilt the lead to seven on three occasions before the Rebels later pulled within four. Mashack made consecutive 3-pointers as the Volunteers increased their lead to 40-31 at halftime.

—Field Level Media