Coming off a 37-point dominating performance in a 92-84 win over Vanderbilt earlier this week, Grant Williams this evening instead served as the “inside” to Tennessee’s inside-out game against a tall Texas A&M squad en route to a 75-62 win over the Aggies.
Williams was credited with only two actual assists on the night, but he was often the trigger man for a series of quick passes out of the post and then around the perimeter before a wide open shot went down. Every starter on the roster scored in double figures except Williams, who still finished with 9, and the team outdid the Aggies on the offensive boards 14-6 as well.
A&M entered Thompson-Boling Arena on a four-game skid after starting 11-1, but this would be their first game back at full strength. The game was tight early, but the Vols began to pull away about halfway through the first half. Heading into the locker room for the break, Tennessee was ahead 36-28.
The Aggies seemed just barely shy of theatening most of the rest of the way, but never really put it together. They made one final push with about six minutes remaining and the Vols stuck on 65, cutting the lead down to 6 points with 3:41 to go. Grant Williams put an end to that out of a timeout, though, with a sweet jump hook for 2 in the middle of the lane, and the Vols mostly coasted home from there.
Jordan Bowden led the way with 15 points, and Kyle Alexander, Admiral Schofield, and Jordan Bone had 14, 12, and 10. Scofield led the team on the boards with 8.
The Vols move to 12-4 overall and 3-2 in the SEC, 1.5 games behind 4-0 Auburn. They are currently 13th in RPI and 14th in KenPom. Up next is Missouri, Wednesday at 9:00.
Go Vols!
