NASHVILLE — Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes often calls the SEC the most physical league in college basketball.

The Vols and Vanderbilt amped up the physicality to a higher level on Feb. 21. The referees largely allowed the players to push, trip and grab each other throughout the game. Splashes of orange repeatedly fell on the hardwood at Memorial Gymnasium.

The Vols (20-7, 10-4 SEC), however, continued to pick themselves back up in a 69-65 win over No. 18 Vanderbilt (21-6, 8-6), tying a program record of five consecutive 20-win seasons. The Vols last achieved the feat under Don DeVoe from 1980 to 1985.

Tennessee coach Rick Barnes called the game “pretty physical.” Sophomore guard Bishop Boswell agreed.

“I think it’s pretty high up there,” Boswell said about where this win ranks for the team. “A rivalry game like this, you’re going to have to grind it out. It’s not always going to be easy and I think we did that.”

The increased intensity bothered Nate Ament through much of the game. The freshman, who scored 13 points on 3-of-13 shooting, often found himself challenging a sea of Commodores at the rim or attempting to regain his balance.

On one play, Ament blew past a defender and had his easiest shot attempt of the game. Instead of a highlight dunk fueling Tennessee’s second-half comeback, the 6-foot-10 forward slammed the ball into the rim. He would redeem himself, though, with an impossible jump shot against blanket coverage that gave the Vols a 66-65 lead with 54 seconds remaining.

“He struggled,” Barnes said. “They had a lot to do with that, obviously. But he made that one when it counted. He stayed with it.”

Tennessee basketball’s ‘other’ players were key

Although Ja’Kobi Gillespie led the Vols with 17 points, and Ament buried the picture-perfect shot, Barnes made sure to credit the role players.

Before Ament’s bucket, Boswell made two baskets that erased Vanderbilt’s three-point lead in the final 90 seconds.

“It was important because I do think Ja’Kobi and Nate were winded,” Barnes said. “Vanderbilt did a great job of guarding them all night long, like we guarded their guys. It’s going to come back to where those other three guys have to be able to make the plays. The steals that we had on the other end were important to get us back into the game. Ethan (Burg) had a great night. Amari (Evans) and Bishop, and DeWayne (Brown II), those guys were the key to the game today.”

Brown and Burg specifically made several plays to bring Tennessee back from a 49-42 deficit 10 minutes into the second half. Brown started the half for Felix Okpara, who was in foul trouble, and closed the game. He made a layup that brought Tennessee within four points, then made another that gave the Vols a 53-51 lead.

“DeWayne was really good,” Barnes said. “He played a lot of minutes. The more he’s out there, the better he’s going to be. He’s been the biggest surprise on the team this year. We talked about it earlier in the year when we got everybody together for the first time. Somebody is going to surprise you and somebody is going to disappoint you. No question DeWayne Brown has been the biggest surprise of the team this year.”

Burg re-entered the Vols’ rotation after his performance against LSU, and he further cemented his role against Vanderbilt. He drew an offensive foul, got a steal, and made a layup that tied the game.

As March approaches, Boswell feels better about the Vols’ depth after every win.

“Everybody might not have their best night every game,” he said, “but I think we have 15 guys that can come in and make an impact.”

Wynton Jackson covers high school sports for Knox News. Email: wynton.jackson@knoxnews.com

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