The Tennessee Volunteers wrapped up an undefeated pre-conference run with a dominant 67-52 victory over Norfolk State on Tuesday at the Food City Center in Thompson-Boling Arena. This win not only secured their flawless record but also marked a historic moment, as the Vols are now 13-0 to start the season—an achievement unmatched in over a century, with the last such start dating back to 1922-23.
Chaz Lanier was the standout player for Tennessee, leading the team with 24 points, including 6 three-pointers out of 16 attempts. The Vols also saw impressive contributions from their bench, with Cade Phillips adding 10 points, a game-high 5 blocks, and 2 rebounds, while Jordan Gainey chipped in with 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Tennessee controlled the game for most of the night, maintaining a steady lead, but Norfolk State kept the contest closer than expected. After a fast start with back-to-back threes from Lanier and Zakai Zeigler, the Vols never let their lead slip too far, but the Spartans stayed within striking distance. Despite Norfolk State’s persistence, Tennessee pushed their advantage to double digits in the second half, with Zeigler hitting a key three-pointer to extend the lead.
The Vols ultimately extended their lead to 14 points following a dunk by Phillips off a Zeigler assist, and a flurry of scoring from Gainey along with airtight defense sealed the game. Tennessee never looked back, securing their largest lead at 63-44, and coasted to the finish.
With a perfect pre-conference record, Tennessee now shifts focus to SEC play, kicking off their conference schedule on Saturday against Arkansas in Knoxville at 1:00 pm ET.
