KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Tyler Smith had 21 points and five assists and No. 14 Tennessee defeated Chattanooga 114-75 on Saturday night.
Chattanooga's only lead came off two free throws by Khalil Hartwell to put the Mocs up 8-7 with 16:22 left in the first half.
J.P. Prince, who was questionable for the game because of an injured shoulder, came off the bench to help ignite the Vols with a breakaway layup that gave Tennessee a 9-8 lead. The Vols went on a 12-0 run, helped by five points from Bobby Maze.
Tennessee (1-0) entered halftime with a 60-37 lead.
Tennessee freshman Scotty Hopson scored 17 points. Wayne Chism had a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Tennessee scored 35 points off 24 turnovers by the Mocs (0-1). The Vols outrebounded the Mocs 42-30 and scored 62 points in the paint. The new 3-point line did not seem to faze the Vols as they made 11 of 29 attempts.
Stephen McDowell scored 20 points for Chattanooga. Ty Patterson and Nicchaeus Doaks both added 16. Doaks grabbed nine rebounds.
It was the second time in coach Bruce Pearl's tenure that the Vols have scored 100 or more points to open the season. Tennessee scored 106 against East Tennessee in 2005 in Pearl's first season.
Saturday
October 26th, 2024
12:25PM
