BREAKING:Tension as Tennessee basketball suffers close loss to Kentucky, falls for second straight game……..

 

 

Jordan Gainey fired up a 3-point shot from the corner with eight seconds remaining in a three-point deficit. It missed everything.

Tennessee basketball pulled within a basket in the closing seconds, but again, could not get over the hump. Kentucky entered Food City Center and handed the Vols its first loss on the home court, 78-73.

Igor Milicic Jr. led Tennessee with 19 points in a confidence-building outing. Zakai Zeigler and Chaz Lanier followed behind with 15 and 13 points, respectively. The Vols (17-4, 4-4 SEC) now must rebound in a top-10 matchup with Florida.

Here’s how the classic rivalry went down.

11-0 Tennessee run to end the first half

Jordan Gainey buried a 3-pointer from straightaway centerfield to give the Vols their third make from beyond the perimeter in the first half. It brought Tennessee within five points in an offensive struggle. That’s when the game turned around.

Zakai Zeigler drove to the paint and slipped to the floor. Food City Center quieted as the senior guard tranced back to the Tennessee tunnel with an injury.

But the offense continued to flow. After a pair of missed free throws from Felix Okpara, Jahmai Mashack corralled an offensive board. Tennessee managed two more offensive rebounds in the possession, bringing up a fourth-chance opportunity for Gainey — a chance he cashed. Gainey brought the Vols within two points. Mashack went on to hit two free throws for a tie game.

Then, Chaz Lanier made the arena erupt. On another second chance opportunity, Lanier put a triple through the net to give Tennessee its first lead of the night.

Prior to the run, the Vols were shooting 7-for-25 from the field with three makes from beyond the arc. Tennessee finished the half 10-for-33 with a 5-for-20 rate from deep.

Kentucky opens second half strong

Momentum lasted only until the clock began rolling for the final 20 minutes. The Wildcats came out of the break firing, and Tennessee struggled to stay in the game. A 13-4 run for the opposing side put Kentucky ahead by 11 points.

It was the midst of a 7-for-7 run for the Wildcats shooting the ball. Kentucky was getting everything it wanted, simply outplaying the Vols. The 3-point line stayed favorable for the visitors, gifting x makes from deep.

It was Koby Brea leading the way for Kentucky with 18 points on 5-for-5 shooting.

Tennessee tried to make a comeback effort in the final minutes, but could not make a sustained effort. The Vols cut into the lead multiple times, but Kentucky was able to shut things down on the offensive end each time.

A pair of free throws by Otega Oweh after the Gainey miss sealed it.

Tennessee capitalizes on the offensive glass

Keeping Auburn off the boards in the loss on Saturday was a problem that contributed to the falling at the end. Tennessee made sure that was not the problem when it bounced back on Tuesday.

The Vols brought down eight offensive rebounds in the first half to set the tone. At one point, it secured three offensive boards in one possession — a testament to changing the miscues. On the other side, it allowed just four on the offensive end to Kentucky in the opening 20.

Offensive rebounding success remained in the second half, but turning it into points often did not come to fruition. The Vols pulled down countless rebounds on the offensive end in the final minutes but failed to convert them into enough points.

Tennessee pulled in 18 offensive rebounds compared to Kentucky’s eight.

Darlinstone Dubar gives valuable minutes

The Hofstra transfer entered as the unlikely contributor but posted a respectable performance for head coach Rick Barnes.

Dubar has found himself trying to carve a role this season and has landed on the bench several times for not taking a shot. Tuesday night appeared to be a potential turning point.

In 17 minutes of play, Dubar posted seven points on nine shots — contributing a massive effort on the defensive end. His biggest play of the night came with four minutes left in the game. Dubar jumped in the Kentucky passing lane for the steal, taking it to the other basket for a slam to bring the Vols within six points.

He tabbed another steal a couple of possessions later. Dubar finished with two steals and a block on the defensive end. He also added four rebounds.

Tennessee will get a second tango with Florida on Saturday, Feb. 1 in the Food City Center.