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Chaz Lanier scores 23 to lead No. 6 Tennessee past No. 14 Mississippi State, 68-56

AP
Jan 22, 2025

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Chaz Lanier scored 23 points to lead No. 6 Tennessee to a 68-56 victory over No. 14 Mississippi State on Tuesday night.

The Volunteers (17-2, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) remained perfect in 11 games at home this season and bounced back from Saturday's 76-75 loss at in-state rival Vanderbilt, which was later fined $250,000 for allowing fans to storm the court. Jahmai Mashack and Jordan Gainey each scored 10 points, and Felix Okpara had 12 rebounds and nine points.

The Bulldogs (15-4, 3-3) fell to 1-3 in their last four games, all against ranked teams. Josh Hubbard led Mississippi State with 14 points, Riley Kugel had 12 and RJ Melendez added 10.

Lanier had 14 points by halftime as Tennessee led 34-16. Mississippi State shot 22.2% (6 of 27) in the first half.

Mississippi State: Kugel has been a key contributor off the bench during this tough stretch of games for the Bulldogs, including a 21-point performance in Saturday's win over then-No. 21 Mississippi.

Tennessee: Four years ago, Zakai Zeigler was a recruiting afterthought. Now a senior, he has accumulated more than 600 assists and 200 steals.

Midway through the second half, Tennessee was struggling, leading by just seven. As the shot clock was winding down, Okpara threw up a desperation 3-pointer and was perfect. It was the big man's first 3-point attempt of the season.

Mississippi State hit one of its first 13 shots as Tennessee jumped to a 15-4 lead.

Mississippi State hosts South Carolina on Saturday.

Tennessee visits top-ranked Auburn on Saturday.

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1st Half
MSST
Bulldogs
16
TENN
Volunteers
34

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Michael Nwoko vs. Felix Okpara (Zakai Zeigler gains possession)
19:49		Felix Okpara misses two point jump shot
19:47		Cameron Matthews defensive rebound
19:27		Cameron Matthews turnover (bad pass) (Zakai Zeigler steals)
19:15	+3	Chaz Lanier makes three point jump shot (Jahmai Mashack assists)	0-3
18:43		RJ Melendez misses three point jump shot
18:41		Felix Okpara defensive rebound
18:38		Jump ball. Felix Okpara vs. Cameron Matthews (Cameron Matthews gains possession)
18:38		Felix Okpara turnover (lost ball) (Cameron Matthews steals)
18:22		Josh Hubbard misses three point jump shot
18:20		Jahmai Mashack defensive rebound
17:59	+2	Jahmai Mashack makes two point layup	0-5
17:34		Michael Nwoko misses two point jump shot
17:32		Igor Milicic Jr. defensive rebound
17:17	+3	Chaz Lanier makes three point jump shot (Jahmai Mashack assists)	0-8
17:15		Bulldogs 30 second timeout
16:57		Cameron Matthews turnover (traveling)
16:46		Felix Okpara turnover (lost ball)
16:22	+3	Riley Kugel makes three point jump shot (KeShawn Murphy assists)	3-8
16:04		Jahmai Mashack offensive foul (Claudell Harris Jr. draws the foul)
16:04		Jahmai Mashack turnover (offensive foul)
15:44		Cameron Matthews misses three point jump shot
15:42		Felix Okpara defensive rebound
15:32		Igor Milicic Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Riley Kugel steals)
15:04		Felix Okpara shooting foul (KeShawn Murphy draws the foul)
15:04		TV timeout
15:04		KeShawn Murphy misses regular free throw 1 of 2
15:04	+1	KeShawn Murphy makes regular free throw 2 of 2	4-8
14:43		Jordan Gainey misses three point jump shot
14:41		Cade Phillips offensive rebound
14:41		KeShawn Murphy personal foul (Cade Phillips draws the foul)
14:25		Riley Kugel shooting foul (Jordan Gainey draws the foul)
14:25	+1	Jordan Gainey makes regular free throw 1 of 2	4-9
14:25	+1	Jordan Gainey makes regular free throw 2 of 2	4-10
14:08		Josh Hubbard misses three point jump shot
14:06		KeShawn Murphy offensive rebound
14:01		Cade Phillips blocks KeShawn Murphy's two point layup
13:59		Igor Milicic Jr. defensive rebound
13:52	+2	Jordan Gainey makes two point jump shot	4-12
13:21		Josh Hubbard misses three point jump shot
13:19		Josh Hubbard offensive rebound
12:56		Riley Kugel misses two point jump shot
12:54		Cade Phillips defensive rebound
12:45		Jordan Gainey misses two point layup
12:43		Shawn Jones Jr. defensive rebound
12:36		Riley Kugel misses three point jump shot
12:34		Jordan Gainey defensive rebound
12:24		Chaz Lanier misses three point jump shot
12:22		Riley Kugel defensive rebound
12:08		KeShawn Murphy misses two point jump shot
12:06		Riley Kugel offensive rebound
12:01		Riley Kugel misses two point layup
11:59		Cade Phillips defensive rebound
11:39	+3	Igor Milicic Jr. makes three point jump shot (Chaz Lanier assists)	4-15
11:25		Josh Hubbard misses three point jump shot
11:23		KeShawn Murphy offensive rebound
11:20	+2	KeShawn Murphy makes two point layup	6-15
11:09		Chaz Lanier misses three point jump shot
11:07		KeShawn Murphy defensive rebound
11:01		Cameron Matthews turnover (bad pass) (Zakai Zeigler steals)
10:56	+2	Zakai Zeigler makes two point layup	6-17
10:46		Josh Hubbard turnover (lost ball) (Zakai Zeigler steals)
10:43		Zakai Zeigler misses three point jump shot
10:40		Bulldogs defensive rebound
10:40		TV timeout
10:29		Riley Kugel turnover (lost ball) (Zakai Zeigler steals)
10:04		Felix Okpara misses two point dunk
10:02		RJ Melendez defensive rebound
9:49		Claudell Harris Jr. misses three point jump shot
9:47		Felix Okpara defensive rebound
9:25		Darlinstone Dubar misses three point jump shot
9:23		Claudell Harris Jr. defensive rebound
9:05		Riley Kugel misses three point jump shot
9:03		Darlinstone Dubar defensive rebound
8:52		RJ Melendez personal foul (Darlinstone Dubar draws the foul)
8:43		Darlinstone Dubar misses three point jump shot
8:41		Jordan Gainey offensive rebound
8:23	+2	Darlinstone Dubar makes two point layup	6-19
7:59	+3	Josh Hubbard makes three point jump shot (Claudell Harris Jr. assists)	9-19
7:32		Michael Nwoko blocks Darlinstone Dubar's two point layup
7:32		Darlinstone Dubar offensive rebound
7:30		Jump ball. Darlinstone Dubar vs. Michael Nwoko (Darlinstone Dubar gains possession)
7:30		TV timeout
7:27		Chaz Lanier misses two point jump shot
7:25		Claudell Harris Jr. defensive rebound
7:11		Cameron Matthews offensive foul (Jahmai Mashack draws the foul)
7:11		Cameron Matthews turnover (offensive foul)
6:40		Zakai Zeigler misses two point layup
6:38		Igor Milicic Jr. offensive rebound
6:35	+3	Chaz Lanier makes three point jump shot (Igor Milicic Jr. assists)	9-22
6:16	+2	RJ Melendez makes two point layup	11-22
6:11	+3	Chaz Lanier makes three point jump shot (Zakai Zeigler assists)	11-25
5:44	+3	Josh Hubbard makes three point jump shot	14-25
5:16		Chaz Lanier misses three point jump shot
5:14		Michael Nwoko defensive rebound
5:05		Chaz Lanier personal foul (Josh Hubbard draws the foul)
4:46		Riley Kugel misses three point jump shot
4:44		Igor Milicic Jr. defensive rebound
4:32		Zakai Zeigler misses two point layup
4:30		Felix Okpara offensive rebound
4:30		Felix Okpara misses two point layup
4:28		Claudell Harris Jr. defensive rebound
4:19		Riley Kugel misses two point jump shot
4:17		Felix Okpara defensive rebound
4:06		Zakai Zeigler turnover (bad pass)
3:45	+2	KeShawn Murphy makes two point layup (Riley Kugel assists)	16-25
3:37		Igor Milicic Jr. misses three point jump shot
3:35		Cameron Matthews defensive rebound
3:06		KeShawn Murphy misses two point jump shot
3:04		Igor Milicic Jr. defensive rebound
2:47	+3	Zakai Zeigler makes three point jump shot (Cade Phillips assists)	16-28
2:25		Jump ball. Riley Kugel vs. Zakai Zeigler (Bulldogs gains possession)
2:25		TV timeout
2:19		Jordan Gainey blocks Riley Kugel's two point jump shot
2:17		Bulldogs offensive rebound
2:16		Josh Hubbard turnover (bad pass) (Chaz Lanier steals)
1:56	+2	Chaz Lanier makes two point jump shot	16-30
1:41		Josh Hubbard misses three point jump shot
1:39		Zakai Zeigler defensive rebound
1:32		Jordan Gainey misses three point jump shot
1:30		Cade Phillips offensive rebound
1:27		Zakai Zeigler turnover (out of bounds)
1:09		Shawn Jones Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Chaz Lanier steals)
1:05		Josh Hubbard shooting foul (Zakai Zeigler draws the foul)
1:05	+1	Zakai Zeigler makes regular free throw 1 of 2	16-31
1:05	+1	Zakai Zeigler makes regular free throw 2 of 2	16-32
0:44		Felix Okpara blocks Michael Nwoko's two point layup
0:42		Chaz Lanier defensive rebound
0:23	+2	Jahmai Mashack makes two point jump shot	16-34
0:02		Josh Hubbard misses three point jump shot
0:01		Bulldogs offensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
MSST
Bulldogs
40
TENN
Volunteers
34

Time		Play	Score
19:35		Igor Milicic Jr. turnover (bad pass) (RJ Melendez steals)
19:27	+2	RJ Melendez makes two point driving layup	18-34
19:17		Chaz Lanier misses three point jump shot
19:15		Bulldogs defensive rebound
19:15		Igor Milicic Jr. personal foul
19:00		Claudell Harris Jr. misses three point pullup jump shot
18:58		Cameron Matthews offensive rebound
18:54		Felix Okpara personal foul (Michael Nwoko draws the foul)
18:52	+3	Claudell Harris Jr. makes three point jump shot (Josh Hubbard assists)	21-34
18:16		Igor Milicic Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Cameron Matthews steals)
18:04	+3	Claudell Harris Jr. makes three point jump shot (Michael Nwoko assists)	24-34
17:49		Michael Nwoko personal foul (Felix Okpara draws the foul)
17:31	+2	Zakai Zeigler makes two point driving layup	24-36
17:06		Josh Hubbard misses three point stepback jump shot
17:04		Chaz Lanier defensive rebound
16:54		Zakai Zeigler offensive foul (Josh Hubbard draws the foul)
16:54		Zakai Zeigler turnover (offensive foul)
16:46	+2	Cameron Matthews makes two point driving layup	26-36
16:25		Chaz Lanier misses three point jump shot
16:23		Felix Okpara offensive rebound
16:22		RJ Melendez shooting foul (Felix Okpara draws the foul)
16:22	+1	Felix Okpara makes regular free throw 1 of 2	26-37
16:22	+1	Felix Okpara makes regular free throw 2 of 2	26-38
16:05		Cameron Matthews misses two point driving layup
16:03		KeShawn Murphy offensive rebound
15:59	+3	RJ Melendez makes three point jump shot (Josh Hubbard assists)	29-38
15:40		Zakai Zeigler turnover (bad pass) (RJ Melendez steals)
15:32	+2	Josh Hubbard makes two point driving layup	31-38
15:22		RJ Melendez personal foul (Cade Phillips draws the foul)
15:22		TV timeout
15:02		Felix Okpara misses two point jump shot
15:00		Cameron Matthews defensive rebound
14:54		Claudell Harris Jr. misses three point jump shot
14:52		Felix Okpara defensive rebound
14:23	+3	Felix Okpara makes three point jump shot (Jordan Gainey assists)	31-41
13:58		KeShawn Murphy misses two point turnaround hook shot
13:56		Felix Okpara defensive rebound
13:27		Chaz Lanier misses three point jump shot
13:25		Bulldogs defensive rebound
13:09		KeShawn Murphy turnover (bad pass) (Zakai Zeigler steals)
13:08		KeShawn Murphy personal foul (Zakai Zeigler draws the foul)
13:01	+2	Jordan Gainey makes two point jump shot (Zakai Zeigler assists)	31-43
12:36		Claudell Harris Jr. misses three point jump shot
12:34		Felix Okpara defensive rebound
12:27	+2	Chaz Lanier makes two point driving reverse layup (Zakai Zeigler assists)	31-45
12:13		Igor Milicic Jr. shooting foul (Claudell Harris Jr. draws the foul)
12:13	+1	Claudell Harris Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	32-45
12:13	+1	Claudell Harris Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	33-45
12:05	+2	Jordan Gainey makes two point jump shot (Zakai Zeigler assists)	33-47
11:46		Zakai Zeigler personal foul (Claudell Harris Jr. draws the foul)
11:46		TV timeout
11:35		Cameron Matthews turnover (bad pass)
11:09	+3	Jahmai Mashack makes three point jump shot (Zakai Zeigler assists)	33-50
10:55		Josh Hubbard misses two point stepback jump shot
10:53		Igor Milicic Jr. defensive rebound
10:34		Jordan Gainey misses three point jump shot
10:32		Jahmai Mashack offensive rebound
10:29		Cameron Matthews personal foul (Jahmai Mashack draws the foul)
10:13		Igor Milicic Jr. misses three point jump shot
10:11		RJ Melendez defensive rebound
9:59		Shawn Jones Jr. misses three point jump shot
9:57		Igor Milicic Jr. defensive rebound
9:41		Zakai Zeigler misses two point driving layup
9:39		Felix Okpara offensive rebound
9:38		Cameron Matthews shooting foul (Felix Okpara draws the foul)
9:38	+1	Felix Okpara makes regular free throw 1 of 2	33-51
9:38	+1	Felix Okpara makes regular free throw 2 of 2	33-52
9:12	+3	Josh Hubbard makes three point stepback jump shot	36-52
8:48		Jahmai Mashack misses two point floating jump shot
8:46		Cameron Matthews defensive rebound
8:33		Jordan Gainey blocks Josh Hubbard's two point turnaround jump shot
8:31		Jahmai Mashack defensive rebound
8:26	+3	Jahmai Mashack makes three point jump shot (Jordan Gainey assists)	36-55
7:56	+3	RJ Melendez makes three point stepback jump shot	39-55
7:54		Bulldogs 30 second timeout
7:54		TV timeout
7:34		Riley Kugel shooting foul (Chaz Lanier draws the foul)
7:34		TV timeout
7:34	+1	Chaz Lanier makes regular free throw 1 of 2	39-56
7:34	+1	Chaz Lanier makes regular free throw 2 of 2	39-57
7:06		Cameron Matthews misses three point stepback jump shot
7:03		Bulldogs offensive rebound
7:03		Bulldogs turnover (shot clock violation)
6:52		Zakai Zeigler misses three point jump shot
6:50		Cade Phillips offensive rebound
6:49	+2	Cade Phillips makes two point putback layup	39-59
6:43	+2	Riley Kugel makes two point driving layup	41-59
6:20		Darlinstone Dubar misses three point jump shot
6:18		Cameron Matthews defensive rebound
6:01	+2	KeShawn Murphy makes two point layup	43-59
5:48	+3	Chaz Lanier makes three point jump shot (Jahmai Mashack assists)	43-62
5:37		Darlinstone Dubar shooting foul (Riley Kugel draws the foul)
5:37	+1	Riley Kugel makes regular free throw 1 of 3	44-62
5:37		Riley Kugel misses regular free throw 2 of 3
5:37	+1	Riley Kugel makes regular free throw 3 of 3	45-62
5:20		Cameron Matthews personal foul (Felix Okpara draws the foul)
5:20		Felix Okpara misses regular free throw 1 of 1
5:20		Cameron Matthews defensive rebound
5:12		RJ Melendez misses three point jump shot
5:10		Felix Okpara defensive rebound
4:52		Chaz Lanier misses three point jump shot
4:50		Michael Nwoko defensive rebound
4:40		Jordan Gainey personal foul (Michael Nwoko draws the foul)
4:40		Michael Nwoko misses regular free throw 1 of 1
4:40		Felix Okpara defensive rebound
4:29	+2	Chaz Lanier makes two point jump shot (Zakai Zeigler assists)	45-64
3:57		Riley Kugel misses three point pullup jump shot
3:55		Cameron Matthews offensive rebound
3:50	+3	Josh Hubbard makes three point jump shot (Cameron Matthews assists)	48-64
3:36		Michael Nwoko blocks Igor Milicic Jr.'s two point driving layup
3:35		Volunteers offensive rebound
3:35		TV timeout
3:20		Igor Milicic Jr. misses three point jump shot
3:18		Michael Nwoko defensive rebound
3:00		Josh Hubbard misses three point jump shot
2:56		Bulldogs offensive rebound
2:44		Josh Hubbard misses two point jump shot
2:42		Michael Nwoko offensive rebound
2:41		Felix Okpara shooting foul (Michael Nwoko draws the foul)
2:41		Michael Nwoko misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:41	+1	Michael Nwoko makes regular free throw 2 of 2	49-64
2:20		RJ Melendez personal foul (Jordan Gainey draws the foul)
2:20	+1	Jordan Gainey makes regular free throw 1 of 2	49-65
2:20	+1	Jordan Gainey makes regular free throw 2 of 2	49-66
2:07	+2	KeShawn Murphy makes two point dunk (Cameron Matthews assists)	51-66
2:00		KeShawn Murphy blocks Chaz Lanier's two point driving dunk
1:58		Josh Hubbard defensive rebound
1:53		Shawn Jones Jr. misses three point jump shot
1:50		Bulldogs offensive rebound
1:50		Jordan Gainey personal foul (Riley Kugel draws the foul)
1:50	+1	Riley Kugel makes regular free throw 1 of 2	52-66
1:50	+1	Riley Kugel makes regular free throw 2 of 2	53-66
1:31	+2	Felix Okpara makes two point alley-oop dunk (Zakai Zeigler assists)	53-68
1:14	+3	Riley Kugel makes three point pullup jump shot	56-68
0:41		Jahmai Mashack misses two point pullup jump shot
0:39		Bulldogs defensive rebound
0:30		Riley Kugel misses three point pullup jump shot
0:28		Zakai Zeigler defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Zakai Zeigler defensive rebound