Chaz Lanier scored 29 points and top-ranked Tennessee equaled the best start in program history with an easy 76-52 victory over No. 23 Arkansas on Saturday afternoon in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams at Knoxville, Tenn.
Igor Milicic Jr. had 13 points, a career-best 18 rebounds and had five assists for the Volunteers, who held a commanding 51-29 rebounding advantage. Tennessee had a 24-9 edge on the offensive boards.
Zakai Zeigler recorded 12 points, seven assists, five rebounds and three steals for the Volunteers (14-0, 1-0 SEC), who also opened with 14 straight wins in 1922-23. Zeigler moved into second place in Tennessee history with 584 career assists, surpassing C.J. Watson (577 from 2002-06).
D.J. Wagner scored 17 points for Arkansas (11-3, 0-1), which had a six-game winning streak halted. Boogie Fland added 12 points and three steals for the Razorbacks.
Arkansas shot 37.7 percent from the field and 6 of 29 from behind the arc.
Felix Okpara had 10 points as Tennessee shot 39.1 percent from the field, including 10 of 26 from 3-point range. Lanier made five 3-pointers.
Early in the second half, Lanier made two treys in 64 seconds as the Volunteers opened up a 48-29 advantage with 16:57 to play.
The Razorbacks scored eight of the next 10 points to move within 13 with 14:10 left. Tennessee answered with a 9-4 run with Zeigler’s driving hoop making it 58-40 with 9:23 left.
Lanier later scored five straight points, Milicic added two free throws and Gainey drove through the lane for a hoop as the lead reached 72-47 with 2:47 remaining.
Lanier scored 14 first-half points as Tennessee led 42-27 at the break.
Arkansas led 12-9 after a basket by Adou Thiero with 14:23 left in the first half before the Volunteers ran off 12 straight points. Lanier scored seven straight points during the best as Tennessee moved ahead by nine.
Zeigler later scored the first five points of an 8-0 run as the Volunteers increased their lead to 36-20 with 3:24 remaining in the half.
–Field Level Media
