Jordan Gainey scored at the buzzer, delivering a thrilling driving layup that secured a 66-64 victory for No. 1 Tennessee against Illinois. This impressive performance marked a career-high of 23 points for Gainey, helping the Volunteers extend their remarkable season-opening winning streak to 10 games on Saturday.
With just 5.7 seconds remaining, Illinois tied the game at 64 thanks to Kasparas Jakucionis’ second free throw. Seizing the moment, Gainey expertly inbounded the ball to Igor Milicic before sprinting down the court. He received the ball back and executed a high-pressure layup over Jakucionis as time expired, sealing the game for the Vols.
Chaz Lanier contributed significantly, scoring 17 points for Tennessee before fouling out with 3:42 left on the clock. Meanwhile, Milicic showcased his versatility with 14 rebounds and a pivotal steal, followed by a dunk that put the Volunteers ahead 64-62 with just 1:32 remaining.
This victory marks a significant milestone for Tennessee, as it celebrates its first 10-game winning streak to start a season in 25 years.
For Illinois, Jakucionis led the scoring with 22 points, while Tre White added 11 points. Kylan Boswell and Will Riley each contributed 10 points to the effort.
At halftime, Tennessee held a narrow lead of 31-30 and finished the game shooting 20-of-28 from the free-throw line. Illinois, on the other hand, was successful on 30 of their 36 attempts from the line.
Takeaways
Tennessee: With this win, the Volunteers are likely to maintain their No. 1 ranking in the AP poll.
Illinois: The Illini experienced their first rebounding defeat of the season, finishing behind Tennessee 42-37.
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In Coach Rick Barnes’ 10 seasons, Tennessee boasts a 9-1 record when ranked No. 1, with a historical mark of 10-2. Conversely, Illinois has struggled against top-ranked teams, now holding a 3-23 record all-time.
Up next
Tennessee will face Western Carolina on Tuesday, while Illinois is set to compete against Missouri on December 22 in St. Louis.
