Zakai Zeigler helps No. 5 Tennessee rally past Vanderbilt

Field Level Media|published: Sat 15th February, 15:52 2025

Feb 15, 2025; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Zakai Zeigler (5) looks to move the ball against Vanderbilt Commodores guard AJ Hoggard (11) during the first half at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-Imagn Images

Zakai Zeigler scored 22 points, all in the second half, to help No. 5 Tennessee rally and avoid a season sweep at the hands of Vanderbilt with an 81-76 win on Saturday in Knoxville, Tenn.

Zeigler shot 7-of-9 overall in the second half after missing both of his attempts in the first half. He added eight assists for the Volunteers (21-5, 8-5 Southeastern Conference), who avenged a 76-75 loss to the Commodores on Jan. 18.

Chaz Lanier added 21 points and eight rebounds for Tennessee, shooting 9-of-16 overall. Igor Milicic Jr. chipped in 10 points and two blocks as the Volunteers overcame a 16-point deficit to dodge a second straight loss.

Jason Edwards paced Vanderbilt (17-8, 5-7) with 24 points and shot 6-of-10 from beyond the arc. Jaylen Carey added 18 points on 5-of-6 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds. Devin McGlockton (11.2 points per game) was held scoreless, playing just 18 minutes after getting into early foul trouble.

Zeigler put Tennessee ahead for good with 2:57 remaining, sinking a pair of free throws to give the Volunteers a 71-70 advantage. He put the game away with 19 seconds left, converting a crafty lay-in to put Tennessee up 80-76.

The Volunteers outscored the Commodores 50-32 in the second half and made their last seven field-goal attempts.

Tennessee erased a 16-point first half deficit, taking its first lead at 57-55 on a lay-in by Lanier with 8:45 remaining in the game. Lanier's bucket capped a 26-11 Volunteers run to start the second half.

Vanderbilt had perhaps its best half so far this season, taking a 13-point lead into halftime. The Commodores' 44 points was the most Tennessee has given up in the first half all season.

Vanderbilt used an 8-0 run across 1:40 in the first half to build a 30-17 advantage, punctuated by an Edwards 3-pointer with 8:26 remaining in the frame.

The Volunteers made 29 of 52 attempts (55.8 percent) from the field and shot 9-for-21 (42.9 percent) from beyond the arc. The Commodores converted 27 of 59 attempts (45.8 percent) for the game, including 12 of 27 (44.4 percent) from long range.

Vanderbilt shot 54.8 percent from the field in the first half but was unable to sustain that pace, shooting 35.7 percent in the second half.

--Field Level Media

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