Tennessee guard Trae Golden (11) works Thursday against Mississippi State guard Trivante Bloodman (4) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Southeastern Conference tournament in Nashville.
Vols T logoNASHVILLE – Tennessee took care of business in its postseason opener.
In a game they could not afford to lose in their chase of an NCAA tournament bid, the Volunteers gained control early and maintained a comfortable lead throughout a 69-53 win against Mississippi State on Thursday afternoon in the SEC tournament’s second round at Bridgestone Arena.
Tennessee advances to the quarterfinal round, where it’ll face Alabama (19-11) at 3:30 p.m. on Friday. It’s the rubber match between the Vols and Crimson Tide, two bubble teams who won on their home courts in the two regular-season meetings.
After the Bulldogs, playing with only eight healthy players under first-year coach Rick Ray, scored the game’s first four points, Tennessee (20-11) answered with a 12-0 run. The Vols later extended their lead to 19 points with a 14-2 run, including eight straight during one stretch. At halftime, Tennessee led 35-19.
Mississippi State’s 11 first-half turnovers led to 13 Tennessee points, and the Bulldogs made just seven of the their 27 shots, while the Vols shot 48 percent and scored 22 points in the paint.