KNOXVILLE - The Tennessee men's basketball team improved to 5-1 with a 95-67 win over Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday night at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The Volunteers used a 13-2 first-half run to assume control of the game and led 49-28 at the break. Domination in all aspects led the way for the Vols, who scored 48 points in the paint, had 24 assists, won the rebounding battle 50-32 and forced 20 turnovers.
Grant Williams led the Vols' scoring with 21 points. He made all nine of his free throws and had 11 rebounds, five assists and three blocks. Admiral Schofield was right behind with 20 points, missing only one of his nine shots from the field. Also scoring in double figures for the Vols were Jordan Bone (14) and Yves Pons (10).
Nick Mayo had 23 points to lead the Colonels (3-4).
Here are three observations from the win:
Pons plays well
Tennessee coach Rick Barnes noted Tuesday he was looking to start athletic sophomore Yves Pons, and he did just that. Pons is capable of doing the little things that affect winning, and that was evident soon after the opening tip when he grabbed one of his offensive rebounds on the Vols' first possession and ultimately hit a 3-pointer from the left wing. He filled up the stat sheet in his first college start, finishing with 10 points, five rebounds and two blocks - including one on a Nick Mayo dunk attempt in the first half. He hit a pair of 3s for his first long-distance makes of the season.
Assist-happy Vols
Tennessee did a good job of moving the ball around Wednesday, tallying 24 assists on 35 made baskets for the team's second-best percentage of assists to made baskets this season. Bone had seven assists to lead the Vols, his fourth game this season with at least five helpers, but Lamonte Turner and Grant Williams each finished with five. It helped the Vols get good shots - they made 68 percent from inside the 3-point line.
Trouble downtown
The Vols shot 25 percent from 3-point range against the Colonels, who gave the home team some wide-open looks. Tennessee made at least seven 3-pointers for the third straight game, but they haven't shot better than 36 percent in those games. For the Vols to reach their potential this season, they're going to have to start hitting those open looks, because teams will ultimately take away the interior attack.
This is developing coverage. For more, check back later and see Thursday's Times Free Press.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3 or at Facebook.com/VolsUpdate.