NASHVILLE – The University of Tennessee men’s basketball team trailed 35-34 to Ole Miss at halftime of a Southeastern Conference tournament quarterfinal game on Thursday in Bridgestone Arena.
The Volunteers survived Ole Miss’s 6-for-6 start from 3-point range and used an 8-0 run to take a 34-31 lead with 2:02 left in the half.
Sophomore guard Cameron Tatum led UT with 13 points on 4-for-4 shooting – four 3s and one free throw – and junior guard Zach Graham led the Rebels with 13 points on 3-for-4 shooting behind the arc.
Both teams shot well from long range. UT was 7-for-15, and Ole Miss went 6-for-12 despite missing its final six attempts.
Vols senior forward Wayne Chism led all players with seven first-half rebounds.
Either UT (24-7) or Ole Miss (21-9) will advance to play Kentucky (30-2) in a Saturday semifinal. The Wildcats defeated Alabama in the day’s first game.