by Jay King
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. In the opener for the 2024-25 season, the 12th ranked Tennessee Volunteers defeated the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs 80-64 behind Chaz Lanier’s 18 points and 4 three-pointers at the Food City Center.
This win makes Tennessee 1-0 on the season.
Tennessee went wire-to-wire in this game, where the last time they were tied was at 9–9 with 15:15 in the first half. Their largest lead came when they led by 27 at 8:39 in the second half. Gardner-Webb did go on a run near the end of the game but it was too little too late.
The Vols going 51% from the field was very important, as they were hitting the shots that they were given. Four Vols got into double figures, including Chaz Lanier, Jordan Gainey, Zakai Zeigler, and Jahmai Mashack.
Chaz Lanier had a massive improvement from his game vs Indiana, as he had eight more points, and shot 39.6% better. Lanier said after the win that his “teammates told me to keep shooting” despite the first game struggles, which it worked out.
Coach Barnes said that he thought the team played well except in the last five minutes. He said that despite struggling in the last few minutes he said that “games like this help us.”
Tennessee plays their next game this Saturday when they travel to the KFC Yum Center to take on the Louisville Cardinals.