NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Zakai Zeigler stepped into a contested 3-point shot from the far wing with 4:49 left in the game. After burying the shot, he turned to head coach Rick Barnes and received a nod as he scurried back to the defensive end.
That proved to be enough to allow the Vols to run away with the win in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals over Texas, 83-72.
Chaz Lanier posted a strong outing with 23 points in the return to the area where he played prep basketball. His efforts were aided by Tennessee’s (26-6) Zakai Zeigler, who added an additional 19 points and six assists. Texas (19-15) could not match the output as Jordan Pope and Kadin Shedrick posted 14 points a piece.
Tennessee’s 15 offensive rebounds were crucial in the win.
Here’s how it happened.
Lanier prevents early offensive woes
Tennessee’s offense has struggled to show up early in games this season. On Friday, however, Lanier ensured that would not be the case.
He opened the scoring for the game with a tough layup at the rim, and more points followed for the North Florida transfer. Through a majority of the first half, Lanier outscored the Longhorns single-handedly.
Outside of Lanier’s contributions, the rest of the offense failed to get shots to fall efficiently. The load became lightened through the later parts of the first half as Jahmai Mashack provided a strong offensive performance to aid.
Lanier concluded the first half with a touch off the back glass for a layup, closing with 19 points on 8-for-11 shooting. Notably, he only attempted three shots from range.
His second half was less abundant with points, only adding four more to his total. Still, it was enough to lead the Vols to a win.
Jahmai Mashack provides all-around effort
An SEC All-Defensive team selection, Jahmai Mashack proved to be more than just defense for Tennessee basketball against Texas. While still keeping up his prowess on that end of the floor, Mashack also added to other aspects of his game across the first 20 minutes on Friday.
The senior guard posted eight points, four rebounds and four assists in the first half. He provided the dirty work for Tennessee, getting in on the offensive glass for three boards on that end.
Primarily guarding Texas true freshman phenom Tre Johnson, the guard posted five points in the first half.
Mashack finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the win. Though not guarding Johnson the entirety of the game, the freshman still finished below his season average with 11 points as Mashack defended.
Texas four-plus minute scoring drought creates space
Early in the second half, Tennessee found a way to push the margin to double-digits, and it did not look back.
The Longhorns failed to make a shot across more than four minutes, allowing the Vols to take advantage. Tennessee went on a 7-0 run during the span and hit 4-of-5 shots from the field to push the lead to as much as 13 points.
At the 14:43 mark, Texas cut the deficit to six points. The score was 51-45, but the Vols answered with a Cade Phillips dunk which sparked the run.
Zeigler hits huge shots down stretch
The senior guard showed up when it mattered most.
Zeigler managed to hit clutch shots in the closing minutes when Texas tried to carry momentum to its offensive end. The first came with 5:31 remaining when he drove to the right side of the rim, put the shot up off the glass and got the foul call to go. While he missed the ensuing free throw, the lead grew to 14 points.
After Texas answered with a 3-point play on the other end, Zeigler came through again. The guard isolated himself near half-court, stepped up to the far wing and fired away a three in the face of his defender. He buried the shot, turning to his coach on the sideline while keeping the lead secure.
Extra, extra
Zeigler’s fourth assist at the 17:43 mark of the second half put him in sole possession of the Tennessee single-season assist record. It was his 228th of the year, breaking Rodney Woods’ 1974-75 record.
Up next
Tennessee basketball will face off against No. 1 Auburn at 1 p.m. ET in the semifinals with a championship berth on the line.
