KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Reserve Jordan Gainey scored 19 points and No. 6 Tennessee overcame a slow start to beat No. 23 Georgia 74-56 on Wednesday night.

The Volunteers (16-1, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) opened the game with a 26-4 run to start the second half. Zakai Zeigler had 16 points and seven assists. Jahmai Mashack scored 12 and Cade Phillips 10.

Asa Newell scored 13 points and Silas Demary had 12 for the Bulldogs (14-3, 2-2).

Georgia, which had a one-point lead at halftime, missed its first five shots of the second half and was slowed by a pair of turnovers, allowing Tennessee to build a 51-30 lead.

Tennessee shot 27.3% (9 of 33) and trailed 26-25 at halftime. Vols guards Chaz Lanier (1 of 9), Zakai Zeigler (1 of 7) and Jordan Gainey (1 of 5) combined to go 3 of 21 (14%).

Takeaways

Georgia: Wins over No. 23 Mississippi, No. 6 Kentucky and No. 17 Oklahoma gave the Bulldogs early credibility in the SEC race. Sophomore guard Silas Demary has taken on a leadership role for the Bulldogs.

Tennessee: With only nine scholarship players available and freshman Bishop Boswell suffering a shoulder injury, the Vols relied on everyone’s contributions. Transfer Darlinstone Dubar is a key player off the bench.

Key moment

Tennessee made three defensive stops early in the second half and scored the first seven points, giving the Vols a 32-26 lead. Jahmai Mashack had five of those points.

Key statistics

Tennessee shot 27.3% in the first half and the Vols hit 9 of their first 13 shots in a 26-4 run in the second half.

Next

Both teams play on Saturday. George hosts No. 1 Auburn and Tennessee travels to in-state rival Vanderbilt.