Tennessee basketball veterans the backbone of 103-92 win at Kentucky
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Josiah-Jordan James, Santiago Vescovi and Zakai Zeigler hovered at midcourt at Rupp Arena.
The Tennessee basketball veteran trio had been brilliant for 38 minutes and only had to put the finishing touches on the game. Zeigler stepped to the line to make his free throws as James and Vescovi stood beyond the 3-point line. The Vols could exhale and the three familiar forces were the reason why.
The backbone of Rick Barnes' team was that and more — they were the stars and the stabilizers Saturday. The Vols rode their most-known commodities to a 103-92 against Kentucky at Rupp Arena, where Barnes got his fourth win as the Vols coach.
James had 26 points after scoring 21 points in seven SEC games combined. Zeigler had a double-double with 26 points and 13 assists. Vescovi had 11 points for No. 5 Tennessee (16-5, 6-2 SEC). All five starters scored in double figures.
Tennessee's 11-point margin of victory is tied for the biggest the Vols have had at Rupp Arena.
Rob Dillingham had 35 points for No. 8 Kentucky (15-6, 5-4).
Tennessee's veterans were the stalwarts
Tennessee led by as many as 14 in the first half, but Kentucky trimmed that to four at halftime, then to one early in the second half. James hit his second 3-pointer quickly. Vescovi hit his second. James hit another, his third. The Vols restored a 10-point lead behind the fifth-year seniors' scoring burst.
Barnes called timeout in the final five minutes, turning to the group, along with Jahmai Mashack and Jonas Aidoo, after the Wildcats cut a 16-point lead to seven. James backed down in the post for a field goal, then Zeigler made a terrific shot at the end of the shot clock.
Aidoo had an 11-point, 11-rebound double double.
Tennessee's 3-point shooting and offensive rebounding were stellar
Tobe Awaka pulled down one of his four offensive rebounds in the second half between two Wildcats, setting off tempers and resulting in a quadruple technical. UT rebounded 11 of its 20 first-half misses, finishing the game with 18 offensive rebounds.
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The Vols were dynamic shooting as well, hitting 12 3-pointers. James had four, while Zeigler and Vescovi had three each.
Cameron Carr chipped in
Cameron Carr had played one minute in SEC play entering Saturday. Barnes turned to the freshman with 4:19 to play before halftime. He promptly tossed an alley-oop to James off a loose ball, then grabbed a defensive rebound to set up another James field goal.
He played three minutes.
Up next
Tennessee hosts LSU on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET, SEC Network).
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee basketball veterans dominate, stabilize in win over Kentucky
