March Madness 2022: Tennessee uses balanced offense to beat Longwood

Santiago Vescovi scored 18 factors and Tennessee pounded Longwood 88-56 within the first spherical of the NCAA Match on Thursday, displaying precisely why it felt it deserved higher than a No. 3 seed.

The Volunteers (27-7) shot 60% from the sphere and had 4 gamers rating in double figures. The runaway victory got here simply 4 days after the college gained the Southeastern Convention Match for its first convention tourney crown in 43 years.

Even after the SEC run, Tennessee was positioned on the No. 3 line within the South Area. Vescovi and firm are properly on their solution to proving they need to have acquired the next spot.

Josiah-Jordan James added 17 factors, and John Fulkerson scored 15 on 7-for-8 taking pictures. Kennedy Chandler had 13 and Zakai Ziegler completed with 10.

Subsequent up for the Vols is Eleventh-seeded Michigan on Saturday. The Wolverines beat sixth-seeded Colorado State 75-63 in Thursday’s first sport in Indianapolis.

No. 14 seed Longwood, the Massive South champs from the tiny city of Farmville, Virginia, was led by Justin Hill with 13 factors within the college’s first NCAA tourney look. DeShaun Wade had 10 because the Lancers’ eight-game successful streak ended. Longwood had gained 18 of their earlier 19.

Following a sluggish begin for Tennessee, the Lancers had been overwhelmed by an even bigger, stronger opponent, enjoying in entrance of a crowd largely wearing brilliant orange.

Longwood, trailing 17-15 with 11:15 left within the first half, fell off the tempo shortly when the Volunteers went on a 10-2 run to interrupt open a sport that was by no means the identical.

Tennessee spent the remainder of the half pulling away, scoring the ultimate 13 factors to make it 54-29 on the break.

Longwood by no means made it shut within the second half, as Tennessee completed with its highest tourney scoring complete in regulation since a 121-86 first-round victory over Lengthy Seaside State in 2007.

BIG PICTURE

Longwood: Coach Griff Aldrich and his gamers weren’t awestruck by the prospect of dealing with the SEC’s high crew. However on the courtroom, they could not make it shut. Clearly, Aldrich has this program not off course — particularly in the event that they construct on this historic run.

Tennessee: The Volunteers have reached the second weekend of tourney play in 5 of their final 9 tourney appearances. One other regional semifinal journey will not suffice, although. Tennessee has solely reached the Elite Eight as soon as at school historical past and it hopes to alter that simply as shortly because it did with the convention tourney title drought.

UP NEXT

Longwood: Will use this offseason to mirror on its achievements and maintain enhancing.

Tennessee: Wants a win over the Wolverines to succeed in the South Area semis in San Antonio, Texas.