If there were any questions whether or not Chaz Lanier Experiment would be translated into SEC game, that Tennessee The security guard gave a clear answer on Saturday.

Lanier shined in his league debut, headlining No. 1’s 76-52 victory. 1 Vols over No. 23 Arkansas at Food City Center.

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He sparked Tennessee’s first-half surge and did the same early in the second half, outscoring the Vols (14-0, 1-0 SEC) with a season-high 29 points on 10 of 20 shooting from the field and five 3-point shots.

Lanier’s supporting cast was equally impressive. Igor Milicic Jr.who was part of the same offseason transfer portal, was arguably the most effective player on the floor. He posted a double-double with 13 points and an incredible 18 rebounds.

Zakai Zeigler scored 12 and Felix Okpara Completed with 10.

The Vols put on a show on the glass, outrebounding the Razorbacks by a comfortable margin, 51-29, including 24 on offense.

DJ Wagner led Arkansas (11-3, 0-1) with 17 points Boogie Fland had 12. Former Tennessee forward Jonas Aidoo scored 4 points and grabbed five rebounds in his return to Knoxville.

There was a different atmosphere at the Food City Center.

From the opening tip, Tennessee controlled and quickly paid off with one Igor Milicic Jr. Dunk, it was obvious the Vols faced a challenge that only a conference game could bring.

There were always boos from the sold-out seats Jonas Aidoo touched the ball. He even missed two free throws. But both teams came together step by step, even in the first five minutes.

Even Tennessee and Arkansas were such in the first few minutes that neither team could gain a lead or take advantage of a loss in scoring.

That changed after that Felix Okpara fed a passage into a cut Chaz LanierWHO scored the first of three baskets in as many possessions. Lanier’s 3-pointer with 11:10 left in the first half sparked a 10-0 run and forced the Razorbacks into a timeout, giving the Vols a 19-12 lead.

Whatever John Calipari intended for this break, it didn’t work. Arkansas’ scoreless stretch extended to six minutes, and an Okpara dunk pushed Tennessee’s run to 14-2 over nearly eight minutes, taking the lead to 21-12.

Adou Thiero ended the Razorbacks’ shooting weakness after eight minutes without a field goal and Boogie Fland belted a 3-pointer from the top of the key to cut their deficit to seven earlier Zakai Zeigler clapped back with a three-pointer, extending the Vols’ lead to 28-18.

A minute later, Zeigler scored again and Tennessee was back within double digits at 33-20 five minutes before halftime.

If the Vols didn’t appear to be in complete control of the first half, that was confirmed by Milicic’s pass, which Okapra emphatically pulled down around the two-minute mark to confirm it. Tennessee took a 42-27 lead.

But the Vols didn’t just dominate in scoring. The key to Tennessee’s success was its overwhelming advantage on the glass, outscoring Arkansas 27-11 with 14 offensive boards.

The Razorbacks tried to muster some momentum coming out of the locker room and scored first. But Lanier snatched the game back, sinking two 3-pointers to extend the Vols’ lead to 48-29 with less than four minutes to play.

Arkansas was close to getting its deficit back to under 10 after two points from Aidoo, but Milicic sank his second 3-pointer, extending Tennessee’s lead to 52-36 with less than 13 minutes left.

From then on, the Razorbacks never seriously threatened again. The Vols wouldn’t allow them.

Karter Knox hit a three-pointer to make it 15, but Jordan GaineyOn an afternoon in which Tennessee hadn’t been able to score many points from its bench up to that point, he hit a 3-pointer that increased the lead to 18 with 6:12 left. And from there, the Vols piled on.

After his fifth 3-pointer of the possession, Lanier jumped to extend Tennessee’s lead to 21.

Another test awaits Tennessee in its second SEC game.

The Vols will go on the road for the first time in league play against No. 6 Florida at Exactech Arena in Gainesville on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2).

The Gators are coming off their first loss of the season – a 106-100 defeat at No. 10 Kentucky earlier on Saturday.

Tennessee has won eight of the last 10 in the series, including the last meeting between the two teams in Knoxville in January 2023.