NASHVILLE – Tennessee faced too high a mountain to climb in a mid-state clash with one of college basketball’s remaining unbeaten teams.
The final chance for the Volunteers to claim a nonconference win against a ranked opponent this regular season came and went like the other three – with a competitive showing and frustrating outcome.
Eighth-ranked Gonzaga jumped out to a 21-point lead in the opening minutes and held off a lively rally from Tennessee in the second half to stay perfect with an 86-76 victory in the “Battle on Broadway” at Bridgestone Arena on Sunday.
“Being close definitely isn’t enough,” Vols guard Lamonte Turner said. “We don’t practice every day and come out here and play to be close. It was disappointing tonight. We gave up an early lead and kind of played catch-up the rest of the game.”
In four defeats against Wisconsin, Oregon, North Carolina and Gonzaga by a combined 28 points, the Vols (6-5) showed they are good enough to compete with some of the nation’s best teams, though not quite ready to win such games.