Field Level Media
Mar 5, 2019
Senior guard Admiral Schofield made three 3-pointers and scored 18 points to help No. 5 Tennessee roll to a 71-54 victory over Mississippi State in Southeastern Conference play on Tuesday at Knoxville, Tenn.
Junior power forward Grant Williams recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds as the Volunteers (27-3, 15-2 SEC) completed an 18-0 home season. Tennessee has won 26 straight home contests dating back to last season.
Junior guard Jordan Bowden added 12 points, and senior forward Kyle Alexander collected 10 rebounds and blocked four shots for the Volunteers, who moved into first place by a half-game over idle LSU. The Tigers visit Florida on Wednesday.
Junior guard Tyson Carter had 14 points, seven rebounds and three steals for Mississippi State (21-9, 9-8), which has lost two straight following a five-game winning streak. Freshman forward Reggie Perry added 10 points and 12 rebounds, and freshman guard Robert Woodard II also had 10 points.
Senior guard Quinndary Weatherspoon, the third-leading scorer in Bulldogs history, had more turnovers (eight) than points (seven on 3-of-12 shooting). He also had four steals.
Mississippi State committed 17 turnovers and shot just 33.3 percent from the field, including 4 of 16 from 3-point range.
The Bulldogs dropped to 11-46 all-time in Knoxville.
The Volunteers committed 15 turnovers and shot 42.6 percent from the field, including 6 of 23 from long range.
Tennessee dominated the first seven minutes of the second half to begin pulling away.
A layup by Bowden capped a 12-2 run to give the Volunteers a 43-27 lead with 14:37 remaining.
Sophomore guard Jalen Johnson buried a 3-pointer to push the advantage to 48-29 with 13:18 left.
The lead reached 20 for the first time at 53-33 on Williams' dunk with 10:42 remaining.
Schofield connected on a jumper to make it 61-37 with 5:24 left. The 24-point margin was Tennessee's largest of the game.
Schofield scored 11 first-half points, and the Volunteers led 31-25 at the break.
Schofield tallied five points during a 10-0 surge as Tennessee took a 24-15 lead with 7:59 left in the half.
Mississippi State answered with a 10-2 burst to pull within one on Weatherspoon's basket with 3:39 left. The Volunteers scored the final five points of the half for the six-point cushion.
--Field Level Media