From Knoxville with Love: Tennessee Dominates Hogs Inside Bud Walton

Razorbacks a mess as Volunteers show class in second half to massive victory

Author:
Daniel Shi
Publish date:
Feb 14, 2024 11:24 PM EST

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — In what would be a sign of things to come, Arkansas gave up back-to-back easy dunks, the first of which to Tennessee's leading scorer Dalton Knecht as the Volunteers won the game 92-63 behind Knecht's 22 points and Jonas Aidoo's game-high 23.

"Tennessee was more physical than us," coach Eric Musselman said. "[They] created more turnovers. The points off turnovers was a killer. We’ve talked about our inability at times to take care of the basketball. Live-ball turnovers were a huge, huge problem tonight. Tennessee had a better competitive spirit. That was plain to see."

The Razorbacks started the game well, coming out of the gates shooting lights out, starting the game 7-for-11 from the floor including 4-for-5 from beyond the arc.

A mid-half 12-2 run consisting of layups and midrange jumpers quickly turned an 18-18 tie into a double-digit lead for the Volunteers with 8:40 left.

Sloppy basketball kept the Razorbacks from fully trimming the lead, nine turnovers led to 17 Tennessee points in the first half and 28 points off turnovers for the game. However, the Hogs got some good news during the intermission, an offensive goaltend called against Tramon Mark was waived off at the monitor. Tennesee's advantage was just 46-40 at the half. Both teams shot north of the 50% mark in the first 20 minutes.

Arkansas Razorbacks' Tramon Mark runs into Tennessee's Tobe Akwaka during the first half of the Vols' dominating win at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Ark., on Wednesday night.
Andy Hodges / allHOGS Images

Arkansas was unable to take its replay fortunes and make it into a full-fledged comeback. Tennessee started the second half on a 12-2 run as the Hog hot shooting cooled, so did its offense. Aidoo continued to get his way inside as the Vols outscored the Razorbacks 48-22 in the paint.

"We got to play a lot harder," guard El Ellis said. "We had it to six at half and we just let the lead go. It’s frustrating, you know, to have a well-played performance last game and come out and play the way we did tonight."

Tennesee finished the game with nine dunks. Two triples in quick succession from Jordan Gainey quickly ballooned the lead to 64-47. The Razorbacks never got the lead back to single digits as the Volunteers led by as many as 32 as Bud Walton slowly emptied out. The Razorbacks scored just 23 points in the second half.

Arkansas will now hit the road against Mississippi State 1 p.m. Feb. 17. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU and fuboTV .