Top-ranked Tennessee was up to the task in its conference opener, defeating No. 23 Arkansas 76-52. The No. 1 Vols are now 14-0 on the season and 1-0 in SEC play. The 14-0 start secured the 1922-23 team’s best start in school history.

Zakai Zeigler and Chaz Lanier led the scoring for Tennessee. Lanier had 29 points, including a team-high five 3-pointers. Zeigler had 12 as well as seven assists and five rebounds. Igor Millicic Jr. had 13 points and 18 rebounds and five assists before the end.

Millicic scored the first goal with a wide-open dunk on a nice cut. Lanier made his first 3-pointer of the game via quick release. The Vols trailed 10-9 at the first TV timeout after giving up a pair of three-pointers in the corner early.

Millicic hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 12-12 with 13:41 left. Lanier capped an 11-0 run with a 3-pointer to make it 19-12 with 11:10 left to play in the half. Lanier hit another mid-range goal to put the Vols up by 10 with seven minutes to play. Zeigler hit his first 3-pointer of the game with an offensive rebound, answering a Boogie Fland triple. He then hit another from the same spot, giving the Vols a 33-20 lead. Both Lanier and Zeigler had double figures in the first half, giving the Vols a great start.

The Vols had a huge rebounding advantage in the first half with 14 offensive rebounds and an overall advantage of 27-12. Millicic had nine boards alone. Tennessee also had as many assists as Arkansas made shots. The Vols led 42-27 at halftime.

Lanier opened the scoring with another three-pointer in the second half. He scored again shortly after and Tennessee led 48-29. Millicic hit another 3-pointer for a double-double on the day and Tennessee led 52-36 with 13:45 to play. A steal and dunk by Adou Thiero cut Tennessee’s lead to 14.

Ziegler passed his former teammate Jonas Aidoo for a layup and extended the lead back to 18 with less than 10 minutes to play. Jordan Gainey answered an Arkansas three-pointer with his own, giving Tennessee a 63-45 lead with 5:48 to play. Millicic grabbed his 16th rebound and kicked Lanier for his fifth triple of the game. The lead was 21 after another mid-range jumper from Lanier.

The Vols never let Arkansas get to them in the second half and finished strong to claim a dominant win. The rebound difference was staggering: the Vols grabbed 51 and the Hogs grabbed just 29.

Next up, the Vols will face Florida in a very tough road test.

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