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Volunteers Overcome Tigers in a Show of Resilience at Thompson-Boling Arena

The Tennessee Volunteers, ranked 4th, and the Auburn Tigers, holding the 11th rank, clashed in an intense conference game that saw the home team emerge victorious with a final score of 92-84. The Volunteers now boast an impressive record while the Tigers face a setback after this encounter.


Feb 28, 2024; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Chad Baker-Mazara (10) goes to the basket against the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

In front of a roaring crowd at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, the Tennessee Volunteers displayed remarkable tenacity to secure their victory over the Auburn Tigers. The game was characterized by numerous lead changes totaling 12 and ties on eight occasions, keeping fans on edge throughout.


The Volunteers showcased superior shooting accuracy with a field goal percentage of 51 and were particularly lethal from beyond the arc where they shot an impressive 53 percent. Their prowess from the free-throw line was also notable as they made good on 77 percent of their attempts. This sharpshooting contributed significantly to their total tally for the night.


Feb 28, 2024; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Zakai Zeigler (5) goes to the basket against the Auburn Tigers during the second half at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Defensively, Tennessee outperformed Auburn with five blocks to their three and managed six steals over Auburn's ten. The rebounding battle was also won by Tennessee who gathered a total of 37 rebounds compared to Auburn's 30. Of these rebounds for Tennessee, nine were offensive which allowed them additional scoring opportunities.


Tennessee's offense was facilitated through teamwork as evidenced by their collection of thirteen assists; however, they did have fourteen turnovers during play which is something they would look to improve upon in future games.


Feb 28, 2024; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Josiah-Jordan James (30) and forward Tobe Awaka (11) and guard Jordan Gainey (2) and guard Zakai Zeigler (5) watch as guard Dalton Knecht (3) shoots free throws against the Auburn Tigers during the second half at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

On individual performances for Tennessee, one player stood out despite being fouled out during play – his contributions prior to leaving were vital for setting up his team’s success.


Conversely, while suffering defeat, Auburn demonstrated commendable effort and skill throughout the match-up. They managed twenty assists indicating strong teamwork and had ten steals showing aggressive defense against Tennessee’s plays. Their free throw accuracy stood at seventy-five percent which kept them competitive until the end.


As both teams exhausted all but two remaining timeouts each trying to strategize until the last second ticked off; it was ultimately Tennessee who held firm control when it mattered most securing this hard-fought win within conference play boundaries.


Looking ahead after this gripping contest at Thompson-Boling Arena; fans can next catch The Tennessee Volunteers as they travel to face off against Alabama Crimson Tide at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa on March 2nd at 7:00 PM CT. This upcoming game will be broadcasted live on ESPN ensuring supporters won’t miss any action from this anticipated match-up.

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