NASHVILLE – Minutes into the Tennessee men’s basketball team’s Southeastern Conference tournament opener Wednesday night, it became clear the Volunteers had put their four-game losing streak in the past.
They were playing loose and having fun – and they turned it into the program’s largest win in this event.
With key contributions from their three seniors and Detrick Mostella’s highest-scoring game in almost two months, the Vols jumped on Auburn from the opening tip and ran the Tigers out of Bridgestone Arena in a 97-59 rout.
“At this time of the year, it’s going to be about who wants it the most,” Armani Moore said after leading the Vols with 22 points and five assists. “We know we have nothing to lose, so why not go and compete and give it all you’ve got?”
The 12th-seeded Vols (14-18) will try to replicate the effort against fifth-seeded Vanderbilt this afternoon.