MENS BASKETBALL

Tennessee 90, Mississippi 64

BY AL LESAR
ASSOCIATED PRESS

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Jonas Aidoo scored 24 points and had 10 rebounds to lead No. 5 Tennessee to a 90-64 victory over No. 22 Mississippi in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams.

Zakai Zeigler contributed 17 points and 10 assists for the Volunteers (11-3, 1-0 Southeastern Conference). Santiago Vescovi added 11 points and Jahmai Mashack scored 10 as Tennessee won for the seventh straight time.

Aidoo was limited to a season-low 11 minutes of action Tuesday against Norfolk State while he nursed a strained calf.

Jaemyn Brakefield scored 22 points as Mississippi (13-1, 0-1) had its season-long winning streak snapped. Jaylen Murray added 11 points for the Rebels.

Aidoo scored 12 points in the first half to lead the Vols to a 40-31 lead at intermission. The Vols hit just one of their first 12 3-point attempts but finished 5 of 16. Mashack hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send Tennessee to the locker room with momentum.

THE TAKEAWAY

Mississippi: After having its 13-game winning streak snapped, the Rebels must regroup to get back on track. They are averaging more than 77 points a game, their best offensive production in seven years. Tennessee’s lock-down defense was a problem for Mississippi.

Tennessee: The primary focus for coach Rick Barnes all season has been consistency. With a veteran core unit, finding consistent performance on both ends of the floor may be easier to achieve this season than it has been in the past.

Tennessee athletics press release

January 6, 2024