Vols Extend Home Winning Streak to 11 Games with Victory Over Mississippi State
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Chaz Lanier played a standout game, scoring 23 points, to propel No. 6 Tennessee to a 68-56 win over No. 14 Mississippi State on Tuesday night. The victory marked the Volunteers’ 11th consecutive home win, extending their perfect record at home to 11-0 this season.
Tennessee (17-2, 4-2 SEC) dominated the game from the outset, with Lanier providing the early spark. Jahmai Mashack and Jordan Gainey both contributed 10 points, while Felix Okpara nearly recorded a double-double, finishing with 12 rebounds and 9 points. Zakai Zeigler was also a key contributor, adding 9 points, 7 assists, and 5 steals, showcasing his all-around skills.
Mississippi State (15-4, 3-3 SEC), who had been struggling in recent weeks, dropped their third game in four contests, all against ranked opponents. Josh Hubbard was the Bulldogs’ top scorer with 14 points, though he struggled with his shooting, making only 5 of 16 attempts from the field. Riley Kugel and RJ Melendez added 12 and 10 points, respectively, but Mississippi State’s overall performance was hindered by their poor shooting in the first half.
The game was essentially decided in the opening 20 minutes, with Tennessee taking a commanding 34-16 lead into the break. Lanier had already scored 14 points by halftime, and Mississippi State struggled mightily, shooting just 22.2% (6 of 27) from the field, including a dismal 1 of 13 to start the game. In contrast, Tennessee came out firing, jumping to a 15-4 lead early and never relinquishing control.
In terms of shooting, Tennessee finished the game with a solid 41.8% from the field (23 of 55) and was particularly efficient from the free-throw line, converting 92.3% (12 of 13). Mississippi State, on the other hand, shot 33.9% (19 of 56) from the field and struggled with their three-point shooting, making only 10 of 33 attempts (30.3%).
Iowa State Surges Past UCF in High-Scoring Affair
AMES, Iowa — No. 3 Iowa State secured a 108-83 victory over Central Florida, thanks to a career-high 30 points from Joshua Jefferson. The Cyclones (16-2, 6-1 Big 12) displayed offensive firepower, reaching their highest point total of the season. Keshon Gilbert contributed 21 points and 8 assists, while Curtis Jones added 19 points, helping Iowa State bounce back from a tough loss to West Virginia over the weekend.
Jordan Ivy-Curry led UCF (12-6, 3-4) with 24 points, but the Knights were no match for Iowa State’s relentless offense. Keyshawn Hall chipped in 13 points in the losing effort.
Alabama Dominates Vanderbilt in SEC Showdown
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 4 Alabama had little trouble dispatching Vanderbilt, 103-87, behind strong performances from Aden Holloway and Mouhamed Dioubate, who each scored 22 points. Holloway was efficient, hitting 8 of 11 shots, including four three-pointers, while Dioubate added 10 rebounds to his 22-point tally. The Crimson Tide (16-3, 5-1 SEC) also received a solid contribution from Mark Sears, who scored 21 points and dished out 7 assists.
Vanderbilt (15-4, 3-3) was led by Jason Edwards, who scored 21 points, and Tyler Nickel, who added 19. However, despite their best efforts, the Commodores could not keep pace with Alabama’s offensive barrage.
Marquette Forces 24 Turnovers in Win Over Seton Hall
NEWARK, N.J. — No. 10 Marquette rebounded from a narrow loss to Xavier by defeating Seton Hall, 76-59, with a standout defensive performance that saw them force 24 turnovers. Kam Jones led the Golden Eagles (16-3, 7-1 Big East) with 19 points, while David Joplin and Ben Gold chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively. Marquette also excelled defensively, with Chase Ross contributing five of the team’s 18 steals.
Seton Hall (6-13, 1-7 Big East) was led by Isaiah Coleman, who scored a career-high 27 points. However, the Pirates’ offensive struggles continued, as they fell to their fourth straight loss and ninth in their last ten games.
Texas Secures Crucial SEC Win Over Missouri
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas defeated No. 22 Missouri, 61-53, in a tightly contested game that saw the Longhorns (13-6, 2-4 SEC) pull away late. Arthur Kaluma led the charge with 14 points, and Kadin Shedrick provided a key 6-1 run in the final minutes that helped Texas secure the lead. The Tigers (15-4, 4-2) struggled from beyond the arc, shooting only 4 of 20 from three-point range.
Tamar Bates was the top scorer for Missouri, finishing with 10 points, but despite their best efforts, the Tigers couldn’t overcome their shooting woes.
Arizona State Ends Skid with Win Over No. 23 West Virginia
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Arizona State (11-7, 2-5 Big 12) broke a four-game losing streak by defeating No. 23 West Virginia, 65-57. Basheer Jihad led the way with 17 points, and freshman Jayden Quaintance recorded a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. BJ Freeman also added 14 points, while Adam Miller contributed 10.
West Virginia (13-5, 4-3 Big 12) was led by their top scorer, Javon Small, who finished with 14 points, but the Mountaineers couldn’t mount a comeback after falling behind in the second half.
Louisville Cruises to Victory Over SMU
DALLAS — No. 25 Louisville earned its first victory as a ranked team in four years, defeating SMU, 98-73. Reyne Smith exploded for 30 points, tying his career high with 10 three-pointers. Chucky Hepburn also played a key role, scoring 13 points and handing out a career-high 16 assists. Louisville (15-5, 8-1 ACC) extended their winning streak to nine games, with J’Vonne Hadley and James Scott each adding 16 points.
SMU (14-5, 5-3) had their three-game winning streak snapped despite a strong effort from Matt Cross, who led the Mustangs with 18 points.
