Tennessee started 0-8 from the floor and it became apparent early that if the Vols were going to win, they’d have to scratch and claw their way to a victory. This wasn’t the same team that shot close to 60% from the floor in each of their last two victories, and it looked at times like they wouldn’t have enough firepower to overcome Elston Turner’s 38 points. But this Vol team never quit, and proved to be the tougher, more determined team over the course of 60 minutes en route to the 93-85 four overtime victory.

At the break, the Vols trailed by just three, 31-28, despite shooting poorly (32.1%)  and getting beat on the boards (20-12). Tennessee showed more intensity in the second half, and dominated the glass after intermission by a 41-22 margin. With the win, the Vols moved to 4-0 in games that go at least three overtimes. The victory also pushed Tennessee’s winning streak to five games, the longest active streak in the SEC.

The Vols are 11-3 when Golden scores 10.
Photo by Reed Carringer

Offense: The LSU game game saw Golden, McRae, and Stokes account for 82% of the scoring, and the Tennessee trio again shouldered the vast majority of the offensive burden. Trae Golden was brilliant late in the game, and scored a career high 32 points. Jarnell Stokes grabbed yet another double-double with 20 points and 16 massive rebounds, while Jordan McRae added 23 points, including a huge 3 near the end of the first overtime to tie the game. Skylar McBee contributed 12 points on 3-4 shooting from beyond the arc.

There’s no denying the Vols are a dangerous team when Golden plays well, and it’s clear he has been a different player in the five games since his return from a hamstring injury—all wins. He’s averaging 20.8 points per game during Tennessee’s winning streak; a streak that’s likely to continue if he continues scoring at such a high rate.

Tennessee shot 39.4% for the game, 47.6% from 3, and 69.2% from the free throw line.

Defense: The Vols have struggled all year to slow down an opponent’s top-scorer. Marshall Henderson tagged Tennessee for 60 points in two games. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope torched UT for 24 points in Georgia’s victory in Thompson-Boling Arena. Arkansas’ BJ Young recorded 25 points in a Razorback win over Tennessee. Texas A&M’s Elston Turner scored 38 points for the Aggies, yet in a departure from the games referenced above, the Vols won.

Tennessee defensive specialist Josh Richardson got in foul trouble early, which forced McBee to guard Turner. The explosive Aggie guard with a smooth stroke hit jumper after jumper over the outmatched McBee, and UT simply had no answer for Turner for much of the game. Fortunately for the Vols, Turner clearly tired as the game progressed, and as it moved to overtime, Cuonzo elected to put Richardson on him in key moments—despite Richardson’s four fouls. Richardson forced him to take tough shots at the end of the first and second overtime periods, and he wasn’t a significant factor in the game with Richardson on him.

As the game progressed, the Vols improved defensively. The Aggies shot 53.8% in the first half, 44% in the second half, and just 29.6% in the four overtime periods.

Final Take: Tennessee showed the type of toughness and determination head coach Cuonzo Martin preaches. Due to that toughness and resilience, the Vols are making an unlikely late run at an NCAA Tournament bid.

“We came all the way to Texas. We’re not trying to go all the way back to Tenn with no loss. We’ve got NCAA dreams,” Vol point guard Trae Golden said after the game. With the victory, the Vols have positioned themselves in the middle of “bubble” talks. With another win Tuesday, it’s likely some projections will start listing them in the field of 68.

Up Next: The Vols host No. 4 Florida Tuesday at 9 p.m. in a game that will be televised nationally by ESPN.