No. 11 Tennessee Holds Off Tennessee State, 83-78

Tennessee State opened with a 5-0 lead at Food City Center, while early fouls put the Volunteers under pressure. Dai Dai Ames answered with an eight-point run that gave Tennessee the lead, and the Vols went into halftime ahead 42-37.

Tennessee built its advantage to 15 points in the second half. Hill led the Volunteers with 19 points, five rebounds and five assists. Jalen Haralson scored 15 points, Tyler Lundblade had 14, and Ames finished with 11. Juke Harris contributed 10 rebounds and eight points.

The Tigers chipped away at the lead. Jayden Jones scored four straight points to bring Tennessee State within seven, and Ty-Laur Johnson’s three-point play cut the margin to five. Tennessee State got no closer. Johnson finished with a game-high 22 points.

Tennessee State won the rebounding battle 45-43 and collected 24 offensive rebounds. Tennessee improved to 3-0, while the Tigers fell to 2-2. Tennessee State had won two games after opening its season with a 30-point defeat against Murray State.

Tennessee State visits South Florida on Tuesday, while Tennessee hosts No. 5 Michigan State the same day.