KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – For a second time this season, Tennessee defeated South Carolina by a minimum of 40 factors, taking down the Gamecocks in dominant style, 85-45 Saturday at Thompson-Boling Enviornment.

Tennessee’s pair of wins over South Carolina totaled an 83-point margin, because the Vols gained 85-42 in Columbia on Jan. 7. Tennessee has gained every of the final six conferences in Knoxville towards the Gamecocks and 10 of the final 11 conferences total within the sequence. 

The Vol’s 4 whole turnovers Saturday stood as UT’s fewest in a recreation through the eight-year tenure of head coach Rick Barnes.

5 Vols scored in double figures Saturday as Tennessee assisted on 29 of its 36 made discipline objectives. UT shot 58 % from the ground and simply over 43 % (10-of-23) from 3-point vary.

Coming off a four-game damage absence, Josiah-Jordan James tied for a game-high scoring effort, main the Vols with 18 factors on 7-of-11 capturing, together with a 4-of-7 mark from 3-point vary, two rebounds and an help. Jahmai Mashack logged 14 factors, connecting on 5-of-7 field-goal makes an attempt and made each of his 3-point makes an attempt to go together with six rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals.

Zakai Zeigler posted a double-double, scoring 14 factors on 5-of-7 capturing from the field-including his 3-of-4 clip from past the arc-and allotting a career-high 11 assists.

Olivier Nkamhoua recorded an environment friendly efficiency, totaling 10 factors on 5-of-10 capturing, eight rebounds and 5 assists within the win. Uros Plavsic completed with 10 factors on an ideal 5-of-5 capturing effort. Santiago Vescovi logged seven factors, 4 assists and 4 rebounds.

South Carolina had only one participant rating greater than seven factors, with Hayden Brown registering 18 factors on a 7-of-14 capturing effort.

James led Tennessee in scoring within the first half, coming off the bench for 10 factors in as many minutes. Zeigler and Plavsic weren’t far behind, scoring eight apiece within the opening half. Tennessee matched South Carolina’s first-half level whole of 26 with 26 factors of its personal simply within the paint, taking a 12-point lead into the break, 38-26.

Early within the second half, Jonas Aidoo hammered down an alley-oop dunk off a Zeigler help to place Tennessee up by 19 factors, earlier than a Nkamhoua jumper the next possession gave the Vols their first lead of 20 factors, main by 21 at 51-30.

With just below 9 minutes remaining within the recreation Saturday, Tennessee had 4 double-figure scorers-Zeigler, Nkamhoua, Plavsic and James-compared to at least one for South Carolina, Brown.

Via the primary 13 minutes of the second half, South Carolina amassed simply 4 made discipline objectives with 5 turnovers. At that time, simply three Gamecocks had registers factors within the second half, combining for eight factors on 4-of-16 capturing from the sphere.

Tennessee used a 22-5 second-half run to take a 73-39 lead and ended the sport on a 34-11 run over the ultimate 12:35 of play. UT made six of its ultimate seven field-goal makes an attempt on the evening. 

SCORIN’ AND DISHIN’: Saturday’s 13-point, 11-assist double-double is Zakai Zeigler’s fifth factors/assists double-double this season, however ties him for this system’s profession file, which was set by Rodney Woods from 1972-75.

STIFLING DEFENSE: For the twelfth time this season, Tennessee held its opponent to 50 or fewer points-a mark that leads the nation.

THE WINNING MARGIN: Saturday’s 40-point victory additionally marked Tennessee’s twelfth win this season by 20 or extra points-a program file for 20+ level wins in a single season.

MAKING IT RAIN: Tennessee shot .567 from the sphere within the first half and .594 within the second half, its finest capturing percentages in any half since capturing .625 within the second half towards Texas on Jan. 28.

The Vols have now shot 50 % or higher from the sphere throughout a half 18 instances this season.

MONEY: Tennessee hit 10 3-pointers Saturday evening, marking its tenth recreation with a minimum of 10 made threes this season. With the Vols making 10+ threes 14 instances final yr, it turns into the primary time for the reason that 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons by which Tennessee has made 10+ 3-point photographs in a recreation a minimum of 10 instances in consecutive seasons.

UP NEXT: Tennessee is again inside Thompson-Boling Enviornment for the ultimate time this season for Senior Night time, taking over Arkansas on Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET. The sport might be televised on ESPN2.