KNOXVILLE — Clinging to a two-point lead with 13:05 left to play, Tennessee needed a spark.
The Volunteers defense provided it.
Over the next 6:21, the Vols held Tennessee State scoreless as they went on a 13-0 run, enabling them to cruise to a 67-46 victory Saturday night.
“That’s our team,” Tennessee head coach Donnie Tyndall said. “We’re not a great offensive team. When you don’t have a post guy that you can throw it to and there’s no anchor around the rim to throw it to and draw a foul or get an easy basket, everything is kind of manufactured and that’s not an easy situation to be in.
“We have to create some offense with our defense and I thought we did that during that run and that one spurt was the difference in winning or losing the game.”