Point guard Zakai Zeigler had 10 points, nine assists and a career-high 10 rebounds Tuesday night as the No. 1 Tennessee Volunteers remained perfect with an 84-36 shellacking of the Western Carolina Catamounts in Knoxville, Tenn.
One of five undefeated Division I teams entering Tuesday, the Volunteers (11-0) went up by 23 at halftime with a stout defense that clamped down on the Catamounts (3-7) and held them without a two-point field goal in the first half.
Chaz Lanier totaled a game-high 19 points to go with seven rebounds, four assists and four steals, while Jordan Gainey had 17 points and five steals for Tennessee. Darlinstone Dubar netted 13.
The Volunteers outscored Western Carolina 22-0 in transition, 32-0 in points off turnovers and 44-14 in the paint. They improved to 11-2 all-time as the AP’s top-ranked team.
Bernard Pelote totaled 10 points and seven rebounds for the Catamounts, who lost their third straight game.
Western Carolina connected on 14 of 64 shots (21.9 percent) and was 6-of-39 from long range (15.4 percent).
A 36 1/2-point favorite, the Volunteers were stunned right away as the Catamounts hit three 3-pointers to take a 9-3 lead, with Cord Stansberry canning two and Pelote adding another.
However, the home side withstood the deep attack and went on a 15-0 run behind two treys from Lanier for an 18-9 lead.
The Catamounts continued to rely on shooting beyond the arc, but after the sizzling start, they finished just 5-of-28 from long range in the first half and missed all nine of their two-point attempts.
Tennessee turned it on as the latter portion of the first half unfolded and led 38-15 at the break. The Volunteers went on a 16-0 run and held Western Carolina without a point over the final 7:56.
Lanier delivered the first bucket of the second half for a 26-point lead, and the Catamounts never pulled closer than 24 the rest of the way.
–Field Level Media
