NEW YORK – Tennessee solidified his claim as No. 1 on basketball’s biggest stage on Tuesday night.

A little more than 24 hours after the Vols were ranked first in both major polls, they were looking positively negative in most cases Miami in their Jimmy V Classic battle, holding off the Hurricanes with an emphatic first-half finish and a late push for a 75-62 victory at Madison Square Garden.

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The storyline of another compelling Vols (9-0) triumph was fitting and worthy of the Garden and New York City: Zakai ZeiglerTennessee’s star senior guard and the local boy who grew up on nearby Long Island and dreamed of playing on the city’s most famous course was among the headliners.

He missed the chance two years ago due to injury. He watched from the sidelines as Tennessee’s season ended Florida Atlantic in the Sweet 16. His final homecoming was far more enjoyable.

Zeigler scored 13 points and barely managed a double-double with nine assists. Chaz Lanier led the Vols (9-0) and scored a total of 22 points, including two big shots late as Miami (3-7) became threatening.

Igor Milicic Jr. scored 16 and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.

Whatever Miami’s defensive strategy was in the first few minutes, it probably didn’t involve elimination Chaz Lanier open.

Lanier, Tennessee’s offensive kickstarter and leading scorer, took advantage of the open looks early. He hit a pair of 3-pointers and Jahmai Mashack rattled in one of his goals from the corner, giving the Vols the lead.

However, the Hurricanes didn’t let it happen. Nijel package And Austin Swartz also made a few three-pointers and tied Tennessee at 11:11 before the first timeout a few seconds after the first media timeout.

Jordan Gaineyfresh off the bench, sank a three-pointer out of the timeout and Miami hit back with another from Pack. Then suddenly it was difficult to get shots.

Igor Milicic Jr. Free throws put the Vols back in front 16-14 with 12 minutes left in the half, but both teams went more than three minutes without a field goal, a span in which Tennessee went 0-4 ahead.

Milicic then ended the dry spell Cade Phillips sent him a pass under the basket and finished with a dunk to extend the lead to 18-15. Lanier followed with his third 3-pointer on the next possession and Tennessee led 21-15.

Miami hasn’t disappeared. The Hurricanes went on a 7-0 run and took the lead for the first time at 25:24 Lynn Kidd Springer eight minutes before the break.

Zakai Zeiglerwho was fouled on a three-point attempt, put the Vols back in the lead with the ensuing free throws and Gainey provided another jolt off the bench to extend the lead to 30-25 with a 3-pointer.

Mashack provided even more cushion by extending the run to 14-0 within seven minutes and increasing the lead to 38-25 after scoring in transition following a Miami turnover within a minute of halftime.

Defensively, Tennessee held the Hurricanes scoreless in the final 7:22 minutes and shot just 33.3% in the first half, entering the break with 13 points.

The life that seemed to have eluded Miami at the end of the first half took hold early in the second half, but Zeigler helped the Hurricanes quell the hot start with a deep three-pointer and subsequent layup to take a 45-31 lead go.

Miami seemed unable to regain what little spark it showed because Tennessee’s defense was suffocating. On a defensive possession, Mashack hit a Hurricanes pass to the sideline and then collected it on the sideline.

When he reached the line, he managed to get the ball to Milicic in the middle of the field. Mililic then threw a pass to Phillips, who completed the alleyoop, sending the Vols’ bench and the orange-clad contingent into turmoil as they headed into midtown Manhattan.

Phillips did it again a few minutes later, this time on an assist from Zeigler, and Tennessee was in full control with less than 12 minutes left, leading 55-37. But Miami, as it turned out, still had a run left.

The Hurricanes went on a 9-0 run and cut the Vols’ once commanding lead to eight after a turnover was turned into a Kidd dunk on the other end. Lanier had a much-needed shot that bounced around the rim before falling in, but Miami responded again, cutting Tennessee’s lead to 61-53.

Lanier came through again with a couple of free throws, and then Zeigler and Milicic got their hands on two Hurricanes shots on one possession, leading to a shot clock violation.

As Miami got closer again, Milicic scored from deep to put Tennessee back in the lead at 66-56 with four minutes left. A defensive stand ensued that ended with the Hurricanes losing the ball, and then a Lanier score gave the Vols some breathing room at 68-56.

Pack hit a three-pointer in the final media timeout to get Miami back within double figures, but a three-pointer in the corner by Lanier was the stunner. With just over a minute left, Tennessee led 73-62 and the Hurricanes had no more goals.

Tennessee will cap its three-game stretch Saturday on the road against power conference teams.

The Vols will play Illinois in the second duel between the two teams. Tennessee won their last meeting in Knoxville 86-79 last December.

The Fighting Illini are 6-2, including wins over Arkansas and Oakland and losses to Alabama and Northwestern in the Big Ten opener in their last game.

Tipoff between Tennessee and Illinois is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

KenPom projects the Vols to win 74-71.