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Illini fall to No. 1 Tennessee 66-64 on Jordan Gainey’s buzzer-beating layup

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Illini fall to No. 1 Tennessee 66-64 on Jordan Gainey’s buzzer-beating layup



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Jordan Gainey scored on a driving layup as time expired and finished with a career-high 23 points as No. 1 Tennessee extended its season-opening winning streak to 10 games, beating Illinois 66-64 on Saturday.

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After Illinois tied the game at 64 on the second of two free throws by Kasparas Jakucionis with 5.7 seconds left, Gainey took control. The Vols’ senior guard inbounded the ball to Igor Milicic, got it back and raced three-quarters the length of the court and scored over Jakucionis as time ran out.

Chaz Lanier scored 17 points for Tennessee before fouling out with 3:42 left. Milicic had 14 rebounds and a key steal and dunk with 1:32 remaining that put the Vols up 64-62.

Tennessee has won its first 10 games in a season for the first time in 25 years.

Jakucionis scored 22 points for Illinois (7-3). Tre White had 11 points and Kylan Boswell and Will Riley added 10 apiece.

Tennessee led 31-30 at halftime and finished 20 of 28 from the line. Illinois hit 30 of 36 free throw tries.

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Tennessee: The Vols should retain their No. 1 spot in the AP poll with the win.

Illinois: The Illini failed to win the rebounding battle for the first time this season, trailing 42-37.

Tennessee hadn’t trailed by more than three points this season before falling behind 8-0 in the first half. The Vols rallied and moved ahead at 18-17.

Tennessee is 9-1 in games in which they are ranked No. 1 in coach Rick Barnes’ 10 seasons and is 10-2 all-time. Illinois fell to 3-23 all-time vs. No. 1-ranked teams.

Tennessee hosts Western Carolina on Tuesday. Illinois takes on Missouri on Dec. 22 in St. Louis.

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2026 Tennessee Football Position Preview: Running Backs | Rocky Top Insider

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2026 Tennessee Football Position Preview: Running Backs | Rocky Top Insider


tennessee football running back
Tennessee RB DeSean Bishop. Photo via Ryan Sylvia | RTI.

A position group that has stability at the top but questions behind the starter is running back. DeSean Bishop returns as the unquestioned starter after a dominant redshirt-sophomore year, but both the pieces behind him a year ago that split the load have departed.

Now, it’ll be a battle for reps between young returners Daune Morris and Justin Baker and Tulane transfer Javin Gordon. Tennessee has rotated up to three backs a game, as well, making a chance for two to be in a game-by-game position to contribute.

Bishop, the star of the room, has expectations that he could play his way into an NFL draft pick this upcoming year. This past season, he took 182 carries for 1,076 yards and 16 touchdowns. That was good for a really strong average of 5.9 yards per tote.

More From RTI: Tennessee Left Off Eight-Team List of SEC College Football Playoff Contenders

Gordon, the Tulane transfer, joins after his true freshman year with the Green Wave. While it wasn’t at the SEC level, he was very productive, posting 128 carries, 516 yards and five touchdowns.

Morris and Baker return after limited roles. Morris was the fourth back, meaning he got more run than Baker when injuries did occur. He finished his freshman year with 35 carries, 133 yards and a touchdown while also returning punts. Baker took 14 carries for 43 yards.

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“It’s huge because you look at the production, you got a guy that understands what he’s walking into in terms of seeing it week in and week out in terms of the caliber of teams that we’re going against,” Tennessee running backs coach DeRail Sims said in the spring about Bishop returning. “His understanding of what it’s like when the game’s on the line and having to go out there and make plays in all three facets of the game, in running the ball, the protection piece, and the passing game. So it’s huge having Bish back.”

The other pieces of the running back room are three-star freshman Will Rajecki and redshirt-senior Hunter Barnes.



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I-24 traffic to be impacted as Middle Tennessee Electric conducts electrical line work

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I-24 traffic to be impacted as Middle Tennessee Electric conducts electrical line work


MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WSMV) – Traffic on Interstate 24 will be impacted Sunday as Middle Tennessee Electric crews conduct electrical line work.

MTE said crews will be performing electrical line work across I-24 near Exit 76 in Murfreesboro Sunday, June 28.

“The project will require one full interstate traffic stoppage and multiple rolling roadblocks beginning at sunrise,” MTE said. “The work is expected to take approximately five to six hours to complete.”

MTE said Guardian Traffic Control will assist with traffic management.

The work could be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.

Copyright 2026 WSMV. All rights reserved.

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Big Truck Day held at Bristol Tennessee City Hall

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Big Truck Day held at Bristol Tennessee City Hall


Kids in Bristol got the chance to climb in some of their favorite trucks on Saturday.

Bristol Parks and Recreation hosted “Big Truck Day” at Bristol Tennessee City Hall.

The event included some of the kids’ favorite big trucks, a Bristol Motor Speedway pace car, face paint, and free popsicles.

Organizers say it’s great for kids to be able to see who’s behind those big trucks.

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Parks and recreation officials say you can keep updated with their events on their Facebook page by clicking here.



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