In a nail-biting showdown at a sold-out Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, the sixth-ranked Tennessee Volunteers saw their spirited comeback bid fall short in a 76-75 loss to the Vanderbilt Commodores on Saturday night. Despite an electrifying late push, Tennessee couldn’t capitalize on multiple chances to take the lead in the final moments, dropping to 16-2 overall and 3-2 in SEC play.

Tennessee’s Early Momentum Stalls

Vanderbilt (15-3, 3-2 SEC) came out strong, scoring the game’s first five points. However, Tennessee quickly found its rhythm, going on an 11-1 run fueled by a barrage of five consecutive three-pointers. This surge, highlighted by precise shooting and defensive pressure, gave the Volunteers their largest lead of the game at 19-11 with 12:21 left in the first half.

The Commodores responded emphatically, launching an 11-0 run over a span of 4:08 to seize a 35-28 lead. Tennessee struggled during this stretch, going scoreless for more than five minutes while committing turnovers and missing critical shots. Vanderbilt capitalized on second-chance opportunities and free throws to build a 41-35 halftime advantage.

Second-Half Struggles and Vanderbilt’s Hot Streak

The second half began with promise for Tennessee as senior forward Igor Miličić Jr. scored five quick points to narrow the deficit to one. Vanderbilt quickly countered with a devastating sequence of four consecutive three-pointers in just under two minutes, pushing their lead to 13 points at 53-40 with 16:39 remaining.

The Commodores extended their advantage to a game-high 16 points, 68-52, with just under 11 minutes left. Tennessee managed to chip away at the lead, but it wasn’t until the final two minutes that the Volunteers truly threatened a comeback.

Late Rally Falls Short

Tennessee’s defense ignited a late 9-0 run over the game’s final three minutes. Miličić, who finished with 16 points and five rebounds, hit a crucial layup to cut the lead to six with under two minutes left. Senior guard Zakai Zeigler, who logged his 12th collegiate double-double with 16 points and 10 assists, sank two clutch free throws to bring Tennessee within two points, 76-74, with 45 seconds remaining.

The Volunteers forced multiple defensive stops but struggled to convert on their final offensive opportunities. After a Vanderbilt miss, Chaz Lanier, Tennessee’s leading scorer with 17 points, drew a foul with just 2.8 seconds left. He made the first free throw but missed the second, sealing the one-point victory for Vanderbilt.

Key Performances

Tennessee showcased balanced scoring with four players recording at least 16 points. Felix Okpara delivered an efficient performance, tying his career-high with 16 points on a perfect 7-of-7 shooting night. Vanderbilt’s Jason Edwards led all scorers with 18 points, while Jaylen Carey added 14 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double.

The Commodores capitalized on second-chance points (18-9) and bench contributions (20-8) to outlast Tennessee’s sharp shooting. The Volunteers hit 48% of their shots from the field, including 47.6% from three-point range, but Vanderbilt’s 12 offensive rebounds and clutch free-throw shooting made the difference.

Looking Ahead

Tennessee aims to bounce back on Tuesday when it hosts No. 15 Mississippi State at Food City Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET, with live coverage on ESPN2.