Vols T logoNASHVILLE – Tennessee used one of its best halves of offensive basketball since early in the season to race to a 40-28 halftime lead then ground out a 58-46 win at Vanderbilt on Wednesday night.
The Volunteers’ top three players — point guard Trae Golden, swingman Jordan McRae and forward Jarnell Stokes — combined to score 35 of Tennessee’s points.
After Vanderbilt’s Kevin Bright scored to move the Commodores to within one, Tennessee took a double-digit lead with a 16-4 run.
Stokes finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds for yet another double-double.
Golden scored 11 of Tennessee’s first 19 points with a variety of floaters, driving baskets and one 3-pointer, Stokes twice dunked emphatically, and McRae’s 3-pointer gave Tennessee it’s largest lead at 38-24.
In his second game back from a two-game absence due to a strained hamstring, Golden returned to the starting lineup for the first time since the SEC opener, a span of nine games.
Though able to get to the rim at will, Vanderbilt shot just 44 percent.