KNOXVILLE – The Tennessee men’s basketball team finished the 2018 portion of its schedule Saturday afternoon with a 96-53 win over Tennessee Tech before 21,165 at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The third-ranked Volunteers (11-1) start Southeastern Conference play next Saturday at home against Georgia.
The Golden Eagles fell to 4-9.
Tennessee had 62 points in the paint and shot 64 percent from the field, running the floor for easy baskets, getting into lanes for steals and easy baskets and moving the ball for easy baskets. The Vols’ lead was 51-33 at halftime and grew to 44 points during the second half.
Grant Williams finished with 25 points, seven rebounds and three steals in 25 minutes for Tennessee. Jordan Bone and Admiral Schofield added 16 points each, with Bone handing out 10 assists in 26 minutes, while John Fulkerson scored a career-high 15 points in 19 minutes.
Former McCallie standout Jr. Clay led the Golden Eagles with team highs of 16 points, five assists and three steals.
Here are three observations from the game:
Efficient offense
The Vols made made only four 3-pointers, but that was mainly because they were so efficient on offense inside the arc. They shot 66 percent from inside the line and were able to get almost any shot they wanted. As has been the case all season, Tennessee used ball movement to turn good looks into great ones, with 25 assists on 38 made field goals.
Defense?
Tennessee coach Rick Barnes can point to the fact that Tech was once shooting 50 percent from the field in the second half, but from that point forward the Vols held the Golden Eagles to one made field goal in their final 18 attempts. The home team was able to turn the defense into offense with a 23-4 run to end the game, with Tech’s only field goal a 3-pointer by Clay with 1:31 to play as the Vols held Tech scoreless for 9:17 to break the game wide open.
Fulkerson’s game
The 6-foot-9 sophomore had a day of career highs. He made all but one of his seven field-goal attempts – four were dunks – and three of his four free throws. But it wasn’t just the offensive production: Fulkerson was in the passing lanes, making a pair of steals that led to his dunks.
For more coverage, check back later and read Sunday’s Times Free Press.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3 or at Facebook.com/VolsUpdate.