KNOXVILLE - Robert Hubbs III scored 16 points to lead six Tennessee players in double figures Tuesday as the Volunteers capitalized on a 21-0 first-half spurt in a 103-94 victory over Appalachian State.
Tennessee (1-1) bounced back from a season-opening 82-69 home loss to Chattanooga and avoided its first 0-2 start since 1965-66.
Vols coach Rick Barnes responded to that season-opening loss by having freshman Jordan Bowden and Shembari Phillips replace Admiral Schofield and Detrick Mostella in the starting lineup. Bowden had played just six minutes in the Chattanooga game, but the freshman guard shot 4 of 8 from 3-point range and scored 14 points Tuesday.
Lamonte Turner scored 15 points, Kyle Alexander and Grant Williams each had 13 and Phillips added 11 for Tennessee.
Ronshad Shabazz and Patrick Good each scored 21 for Appalachian State (0-2). Griffin Kinney had 13 points and Kelvin Robinson added 12.
The Vols trailed 11-9 early before reeling off 21 straight points by feasting on Appalachian State turnovers. Jordan Bone and Williams each scored five points during that 21-0 run, which culminated with a 3-pointer from Bowden.
Tennessee led by as many as 26 points in the first half. Appalachian State got the margin down to seven with 58 seconds left but couldn't get any closer.
THE TAKEAWAY
Appalachian State: The Mountaineers' inability to take care of the ball in the first half proved costly. Appalachian State had 15 turnovers in the first half. Tennessee outscored Appalachian State 22-8 in first-half points off turnovers. The Mountaineers deserve some credit for chipping away at the deficit rather hanging their heads once they trailed by 26.
Tennessee: The Vols corrected many of the mistakes they'd made in their loss to Chattanooga. Tennessee shot 1 of 16 from 3-point range and had 18 turnovers and four assists against Chattanooga. The Vols were 8-of-19 on 3-pointers and had 26 assists and 12 turnovers Tuesday.
UP NEXT
Appalachian State hosts Warren Wilson College on Thursday.
Tennessee faces Wisconsin on Monday in the first round of the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Maui.