Tennessee
MBB: Gamecocks Fall Short In Upset Bid At #4 Tennessee
In a season finale that epitomized their competitive spirit despite a difficult conference campaign, South Carolina pushed fourth-ranked Tennessee to the limit before ultimately falling 75-65 Saturday afternoon in Knoxville.
The Gamecocks (12-19, 2-16 SEC) entered Thompson-Boling Arena as heavy underdogs but matched the Volunteers (25-6, 12-6 SEC) shot for shot for much of the contest, even taking a brief second-half lead before Tennessee’s talent and home-court advantage proved decisive down the stretch.
After trailing by as many as 10 points early, South Carolina mounted an impressive first-half comeback. Jamari Thomas, who finished with a team-high 20 points, spearheaded the surge that saw the Gamecocks take a 34-31 lead in the final minute of the opening period. Though Tennessee’s Cade Phillips converted a three-point play to tie the game at 34 heading into halftime, South Carolina had served notice they wouldn’t go quietly.
The teams traded leads eight times throughout the contest, with South Carolina last holding a 42-41 advantage with 14:38 remaining after a Collin Murray-Boyles layup. However, the Volunteers responded with an 8-0 run over the next three minutes to create separation.
Still, the Gamecocks continued to fight. Arden Conyers, who finished with 9 points on 3-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc, hit his third three-pointer to trim the deficit to 50-47 with 12:41 remaining. But Tennessee’s Chaz Lanier took over, scoring 10 of his game-high 23 points in a four-minute stretch that helped push the Volunteers’ lead to 58-50.
South Carolina remained within striking distance until the final minutes. Nick Pringle’s dunk with 6:51 remaining cut Tennessee’s lead to 64-56, but the Gamecocks went over four minutes without a field goal during a crucial stretch late in the game. By the time Thomas connected on a three-pointer with 56 seconds left, the outcome had largely been decided.
Pringle finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds for an impreessive double-double, while Zachary Davis added 10 points. Murray-Boyles, who had dominated in recent games, was limited to 7 points against Tennessee’s stout interior defense.
The Volunteers shot 54.5% from the field and controlled the paint, outscoring South Carolina 42-24 inside. Lanier’s 23 points came on 9-of-16 shooting, while Zakai Zeigler orchestrated the offense with 8 assists despite scoring just one point. Cameron Phillips provided a spark off the bench with 15 points, and Igor Milicic Jr. contributed 13 points and 5 rebounds.
Despite the loss, South Carolina’s performance against one of the SEC’s elite teams represented significant improvement from much of their conference slate. The Gamecocks competed at a high level throughout, shooting 77.3% from the free-throw line (17-of-22) and committing just 9 turnovers against Tennessee’s pressure defense.
South Carolina now turns its attention to the SEC Tournament in Nashville next week, where they’ll enter as the 16th seed with their opponent still to be determined. Though the regular season record wasn’t what they hoped, the Gamecocks’ late-season competitiveness suggests they could be a dangerous first-round opponent for whoever they face.
Tennessee football star Jermod McCoy is the player who will likely hear his name called first from the Tennessee program in the upcoming NFL Draft. There are many teams he would fit well, but these three teams are the teams I believe he is the best fit with at this moment.
1. Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are in need of a cornerback in the draft class, and they are likely to spend one of their first two picks on one. They are selecting at No. 12 and No. 20 in the draft as of now, and McCoy could hear his name called. He would be joining a decent group of cornerbacks, but he would be an immediate starter, likely alongside a later selection that they make with a cornerback.
It would be shocking if the Cowboys pass on him if they select at 12 and he is still on the board. McCoy would be an immediate starter and would be someone who could shut down a whole side of the field for the Cowboys early in his career.
2. Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins is one of the better fits for Jermod McCoy, and it would make the most sense, as the Dolphins could use almost every position after a major haul of their players. They are in a major rebuilding phase and drafting at No. 11 leaves many to believe that McCoy could be in play.
McCoy would likely be their No. 1 cornerbakc the day he got to the franchise, and would have the chance to dominate the way he did in his one season on the field with the Vols. This selection would depend on who drops out of the first ten selections. If he is one of the better players remaining (highly likely) he very well could hear his name called at pick 11.
3. New York Jets
The New York Jets have the chance to be very good when it comes to the draft, as they are drafting at both No. 2 and No. 16. I believe they will be looking to get a cornerback with their No. 16 pick, which would make a lot of sense considering they had to get rid of Sauce Gardner.
McCoy would be the perfect replacement, as they could find themselves in one of the better situations on the defensive side of the football. He can shutdown a side of the field, and I would bet that he would be a great fit with the Jets because of that exactly.
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Tennessee
Nashville Sounds and Autism Tennessee partner to host inclusive Beyond the Label Day for local children
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — At a ballpark built for noise, there is space for something quieter.
During the Nashville Sounds’ “Beyond the Label Day,” kids are learning, playing and experiencing baseball in a way that works for them. Autism Tennessee volunteers stepped in to guide kids through sensory play designed to calm and focus.
From spinning toys to textured fidgets, these tools help turn overwhelming moments into manageable ones. Children engaged with the activities, pointing out shapes like a circle, noticing items like candies, and expressing how nice the experience was.
Adam English, general manager of the Nashville Sounds, said making space for everyone is the goal, even as the stadium announcer calls another Sounds strikeout.
“It’s important for us to raise awareness about autism, but also just make sure that First Horizon Park is an inclusive place for everybody” English said.
The Sounds stadium even has a sensory room for families at every game.
“There’s huge baseball fans that sometimes shy away because of loud crowds and we want to make sure every game out here available” English said.
For Autism Tennessee leaders like Jessica Moore, days like this are about more than awareness. They are about belonging.
“Typically events like this can be super overwhelming… so this is just a way for people to feel like they can come and still be successful” Moore said.
What are your thoughts on making sports venues more inclusive for all fans? Watch the video to see the sensory room in action, and share your experiences with me at kim.rafferty@NewsChannel5.com.
In this article, we used artificial intelligence to help us convert a video news report originally written by Kim Rafferty. When using this tool, both Kim Rafferty and the NewsChannel 5 editorial team verified all the facts in the article to make sure it is fair and accurate before we published it. We care about your trust in us and where you get your news, and using this tool allows us to convert our news coverage into different formats so we can quickly reach you where you like to consume information. It also lets our journalists spend more time looking into your story ideas, listening to you and digging into the stories that matter.
Checking in on Cole: Gallatin rallies around teen battling brain tumor with prayer vigil
Austin Pollack brings us an update on a remarkable young man facing great odds, and his family has one simple request: pray for Cole. I believe in the power of prayer and hope you’ll join me in lifting up Cole and his family.
– Carrie Sharp
Tennessee baseball will look to salvage the final game of the SEC series against Ole Miss.
The Vols (25-14, 7-10 SEC) play Game against the No. 23 Rebels (29-11, 10-7) on April 19 (1 p.m. ET, SEC Network+) at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Ole Miss has been on a roll. The 8-1 win on April 18 against the Vols moved the Rebels to eight straight wins. It got an ace-level start from Cade Townsend and a grand slam from Tristan Bissetta to secure Game 2.
Taylor Rabe (3-1, 3.16 ERA) will start for the Rebels. Evan Blanco (3-2, 3.67 ERA) will be on the mound for Tennessee.
Tennessee baseball vs. Ole Miss live updates
What channel is Tennessee baseball vs. Ole Miss on today?
- TV channel: SEC Network+
- Live stream: ESPN app
Tennessee baseball vs. Ole Miss game times
- Game 3: April 19 (1 p.m. ET)
Tennessee baseball vs. Ole Miss probable pitchers
- Tennessee: LHP Evan Blanco (3-2, 3.67 ERA)
- Ole Miss: RHP Taylor Rabe (3-1, 3.16 ERA)
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