Vols Roll Over Razorbacks

Tennessee won their 4th straight game Wednesday 77-58 over Arkansas in Thompson-Boling Arena. Tennessee lept out to a 23-6 lead early in the first half and never looked back. The Razorback cut the lead to ten once in the second half, but ultimately were never in the game.

“I thought we did a great job as a team and played well on both ends of the floor,” said Coach Cuonzo Martin. “We did a great job on defense, I thought in the first half, maybe only one or two shots weren’t contested. We were challenging them, making them take tough shots, making them take the extra dribble, forcing them to make tough plays.”

On the night, the Vols had 5 players in double digits in scoring and shot 56 percent from the field, including 9 of their first 10. Which was an essential part of the opening run.  Jordan McRae scored led the Vols in scoring with 14 points off the bench.

“It was just a matter of time for Jordan, just getting his head right and feeling out the offense,” said Foreword Jeronne Maymon.  “It was just a matter of time. Jordan can score with the best of them. We were just waiting on him to come along.”

A key play came with 8:22 left in the game. Arkansas had cut the lead to 10. Skylar McBee came down the floor and hit a three pointer and ultimately put a fork in the hogs.

Vols in double digits were Golden (13), Tatum (11), McBee (12), Maymon (12), McRae (14), and Stokes (10).

The Razorbacks could never get a rhythm. On the night, they turned the ball over 18 times and never looked organized. The game was just another in a series of blunders on the road for Arkansas.

Tennessee has now won 10 of their last 11 at home and will travel to Alabama Saturday on a winning streak.

“It’s one game at a time. If we continue to do the things we’re doing, we have a chance to be successful,” Martin said. “We take things one at a time. We enjoy this one tonight, then tomorrow we do everything in our power to get prepared to beat a talented Alabama team, and that’s easier said than done.”