Chaz Lanier scored 18 points in his Tennessee debut to lead the host Volunteers to a season-opening 80-64 victory over Gardner-Webb on Monday night in Knoxville, Tenn.
The 12th-ranked Volunteers (1-0) never trailed and built the lead to as many as 27 points in the second half.
Lanier, a transfer from North Florida, made 7 of his 12 shot attempts and figures to be an integral part of a retooled Tennessee roster after the Vols went to the Elite Eight in March. Tennessee lost four starters from last season. Lanier showed what he could bring with his ability to score and break games open from long distance.
Darryl Simmons II played stellar to finish with a game-high 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting and went 4 for 10 from 3-point range to lead Gardner-Webb.
Lanier went a team-best 4 for 6 from 3-point range, helping the Volunteers pull away in the second half.
His effort complemented a solid effort from senior guard Jordan Gainey. Gainey, who did not start Tennessee’s exhibition game last week vs. Indiana, was in the starting five on Monday and finished with 16 points. He made 7 of 9 shots.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs cut the deficit to 75-62 with 3:10 remaining in the second half. But Tennessee managed to pull away for good on a Jahmai Mashack triple and a dunk by Cade Phillips. Mashack finished with a career-high four steals while Felix Okpara had nine rebounds.
Ziegler was not sharp. The All-SEC dynamo missed all six tries from 3-point range and was 3 for 10 overall. But Ziegler made up for it at the foul line, shooting a perfect 7 for 7.
Ziegler also had a strong night distributing the ball and finding open teammates with nine assists. Tennessee had 16 assists and only turned the ball over 11 times.
Gardner-Webb (0-1) delivered a gutsy effort at times but missed 17 of its 23 attempts from 3-point range.
Jamaine Mann and Anthony Selden each also had 13 points. But Tennessee took advantage of 15 Bulldogs’ turnovers turning them into 20 points.
–Field Level Media
