Dalton Knecht scores 21 to lead No. 17 Tennessee over No. 20 Illinois 86-79
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Dalton Knecht scored 21 points and No. 17 Tennessee rallied from a second-half deficit to beat No. 20 Illinois 86-79 Saturday.
Knecht had eight points in a pivotal four-minute stretch when Tennessee (6-3) rallied from a four-point deficit to a six-point lead with just over 13 minutes to play. The Illini were held scoreless in the stretch.
“This was the most focus, knowing what we had to do on the defensive end, all season,” said Tennessee coach Rick Barnes. “(The Illini) challenge everything you do.”
“Dalton's really good,” said Illinois coach Brad Underwood. “Let's be real. He does a good job getting fouled.”
Guard Santiago Vescovi added 12 points and nine rebounds against the much-taller Illini. Jonas Aidoo scored 14 and Josiah-Jordan James had 12 points and seven assists and Zakai Zeigler scored 11. Tennessee commanded the boards, 43-34.
“(Tennessee) whooped our butt on the glass in the second half,” said Underwood.
“(Vescovi) is such a big part of who we've been,” Barnes said. “I'm really proud of him and the older guys. They were prepared for this.” (Vescovi) had an aggressive mentality. He was able to have the ‘fix-it’ plays that are so important."
Quincy Guerrier and Terrence Shannon scored 22 each to lead Illinois (7-2). Coleman Hawkins had 12. The Illini were limited to 35% shooting from the field.
“We're really good,” said Underwood. “We've got a really high ceiling. We just missed some shots and were out of sorts.”
Tennessee went more than four minutes without scoring in the first half, allowing Illinois to build a 36-34 halftime lead behind 12 points by Guerrier. Knecht, who was limited to 11 minutes by foul trouble, led the Vols with eight.
THE TAKEAWAY
Illinois: Consistency is a primary objective for the Illini as they begin to close out their December schedule and head into the meat grinder of their Big Ten campaign. The win over Florida Atlantic and relatively strong performance against Tennessee will be efforts to build off.
Tennessee: Having played five teams that are currently ranked in the Top 25 in their first nine games can do nothing but help the Vols down the road. Tennessee begins Southeastern Conference play against Ole Miss Jan. 6.
NEXT UP
Illinois: The Illini will have eight days off for exams before hosting Colgate Sunday, Dec. 17.
Tennessee: Host Georgia Southern on Tuesday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Coleman Hawkins vs. Jonas Aidoo (Dalton Knecht gains possession) | |||
19:47 | +2 | Josiah-Jordan James makes two point jump shot (Jonas Aidoo assists) | 0-2 | |
19:31 | Terrence Shannon Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
19:29 | Fighting Illini offensive rebound | |||
19:15 | +2 | Terrence Shannon Jr. makes two point jump shot | 2-2 | |
18:59 | +2 | Dalton Knecht makes two point jump shot (Santiago Vescovi assists) | 2-4 | |
18:44 | Ty Rodgers turnover (lost ball) (Dalton Knecht steals) | |||
18:36 | Dalton Knecht misses two point layup | |||
18:34 | Jonas Aidoo offensive rebound | |||
18:20 | Jonas Aidoo misses two point layup | |||
18:18 | Jonas Aidoo offensive rebound | |||
18:10 | +2 | Jonas Aidoo makes two point layup | 2-6 | |
18:03 | Marcus Domask turnover (bad pass) (Josiah-Jordan James steals) | |||
17:55 | Josiah-Jordan James misses two point layup | |||
17:53 | Marcus Domask defensive rebound | |||
17:47 | +3 | Quincy Guerrier makes three point jump shot | 5-6 | |
17:41 | +2 | Santiago Vescovi makes two point layup (Josiah-Jordan James assists) | 5-8 | |
17:31 | +3 | Quincy Guerrier makes three point jump shot (Coleman Hawkins assists) | 8-8 | |
17:21 | Terrence Shannon Jr. shooting foul (Dalton Knecht draws the foul) | |||
17:21 | Dalton Knecht misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
17:21 | +1 | Dalton Knecht makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 8-9 | |
16:59 | Marcus Domask misses two point jump shot | |||
16:57 | Dalton Knecht defensive rebound | |||
16:45 | +2 | Jonas Aidoo makes two point dunk (Josiah-Jordan James assists) | 8-11 | |
16:16 | +2 | Quincy Guerrier makes two point hook shot | 10-11 | |
16:05 | Jonas Aidoo misses three point jump shot | |||
16:03 | Terrence Shannon Jr. defensive rebound | |||
15:55 | Coleman Hawkins turnover (bad pass) (Jonas Aidoo steals) | |||
15:47 | +3 | Dalton Knecht makes three point jump shot (Zakai Zeigler assists) | 10-14 | |
15:19 | +3 | Coleman Hawkins makes three point jump shot (Marcus Domask assists) | 13-14 | |
14:57 | +3 | Zakai Zeigler makes three point jump shot (Josiah-Jordan James assists) | 13-17 | |
14:40 | Quincy Guerrier misses three point jump shot | |||
14:38 | Santiago Vescovi defensive rebound | |||
14:26 | Jonas Aidoo misses two point jump shot | |||
14:24 | Santiago Vescovi offensive rebound | |||
14:16 | +2 | Jonas Aidoo makes two point layup (Santiago Vescovi assists) | 13-19 | |
14:02 | Dalton Knecht shooting foul (Ty Rodgers draws the foul) | |||
14:02 | TV timeout | |||
14:02 | +1 | Ty Rodgers makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-19 | |
14:02 | +1 | Ty Rodgers makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-19 | |
13:53 | +2 | Dalton Knecht makes two point jump shot (Josiah-Jordan James assists) | 15-21 | |
13:47 | Fighting Illini 30 second timeout | |||
13:28 | Luke Goode misses three point jump shot | |||
13:27 | Volunteers defensive rebound | |||
13:00 | Jordan Gainey misses two point jump shot | |||
12:58 | Terrence Shannon Jr. defensive rebound | |||
12:58 | Justin Harmon misses three point jump shot | |||
12:56 | Jahmai Mashack defensive rebound | |||
12:52 | Luke Goode personal foul (Josiah-Jordan James draws the foul) | |||
12:41 | Dain Dainja blocks Tobe Awaka's two point layup | |||
12:39 | Luke Goode defensive rebound | |||
12:26 | Terrence Shannon Jr. misses two point layup | |||
12:14 | +2 | Tobe Awaka makes two point hook shot (Josiah-Jordan James assists) | 15-23 | |
11:53 | Marcus Domask misses three point jump shot | |||
11:51 | Dain Dainja offensive rebound | |||
11:42 | Dain Dainja misses two point layup | |||
11:40 | Dain Dainja offensive rebound | |||
11:33 | +2 | Dain Dainja makes two point layup | 17-23 | |
11:25 | Jordan Gainey turnover (out of bounds) | |||
11:25 | TV timeout | |||
11:13 | Jahmai Mashack shooting foul (Terrence Shannon Jr. draws the foul) | |||
11:13 | +1 | Terrence Shannon Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 18-23 | |
11:13 | +1 | Terrence Shannon Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 19-23 | |
10:52 | Ty Rodgers shooting foul (Jahmai Mashack draws the foul) | |||
10:52 | +1 | Jahmai Mashack makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 19-24 | |
10:52 | +1 | Jahmai Mashack makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 19-25 | |
10:37 | Jahmai Mashack shooting foul (Quincy Guerrier draws the foul) | |||
10:37 | +1 | Quincy Guerrier makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 20-25 | |
10:37 | Quincy Guerrier misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
10:37 | Santiago Vescovi defensive rebound | |||
10:27 | +3 | Santiago Vescovi makes three point jump shot (Jordan Gainey assists) | 20-28 | |
10:04 | Quincy Guerrier misses three point jump shot | |||
10:02 | Justin Harmon offensive rebound | |||
9:57 | +2 | Justin Harmon makes two point putback layup | 22-28 | |
9:45 | Tobe Awaka misses two point dunk | |||
9:43 | Ty Rodgers defensive rebound | |||
9:35 | Justin Harmon misses three point jump shot | |||
9:35 | Santiago Vescovi personal foul (Quincy Guerrier draws the foul) | |||
9:18 | +3 | Coleman Hawkins makes three point jump shot | 25-28 | |
8:50 | Zakai Zeigler misses two point layup | |||
8:48 | Jonas Aidoo offensive rebound | |||
8:37 | Jonas Aidoo misses two point tip layup | |||
8:35 | Coleman Hawkins defensive rebound | |||
8:26 | Terrence Shannon Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
8:24 | Santiago Vescovi defensive rebound | |||
8:06 | +2 | Josiah-Jordan James makes two point driving dunk (Zakai Zeigler assists) | 25-30 | |
7:39 | Marcus Domask misses three point jump shot | |||
7:37 | Josiah-Jordan James defensive rebound | |||
7:33 | Josiah-Jordan James turnover (lost ball) (Coleman Hawkins steals) | |||
7:33 | Jordan Gainey shooting foul (Ty Rodgers draws the foul) | |||
7:33 | TV timeout | |||
7:33 | +1 | Ty Rodgers makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 26-30 | |
7:33 | Ty Rodgers misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
7:33 | Jonas Aidoo defensive rebound | |||
7:12 | Josiah-Jordan James misses three point jump shot | |||
7:10 | Santiago Vescovi offensive rebound | |||
6:57 | Dalton Knecht misses three point jump shot | |||
6:55 | Quincy Guerrier defensive rebound | |||
6:55 | Dalton Knecht blocks Terrence Shannon Jr.'s two point layup | |||
6:55 | Fighting Illini offensive rebound | |||
6:44 | Jonas Aidoo blocks Terrence Shannon Jr.'s two point jump shot | |||
6:42 | Santiago Vescovi defensive rebound | |||
6:18 | Santiago Vescovi misses three point jump shot | |||
6:16 | Luke Goode defensive rebound | |||
5:43 | Quincy Guerrier misses three point jump shot | |||
5:43 | Fighting Illini turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
5:25 | Dalton Knecht offensive foul (Terrence Shannon Jr. draws the foul) | |||
5:25 | Dalton Knecht turnover (offensive foul) | |||
5:06 | +2 | Marcus Domask makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 28-30 | |
4:48 | Jordan Gainey misses two point jump shot | |||
4:46 | Luke Goode defensive rebound | |||
4:30 | +3 | Quincy Guerrier makes three point jump shot (Coleman Hawkins assists) | 31-30 | |
4:14 | Jonas Aidoo misses two point jump shot | |||
4:12 | Quincy Guerrier defensive rebound | |||
3:54 | Marcus Domask misses two point jump shot | |||
3:52 | Jordan Gainey defensive rebound | |||
3:40 | +2 | Zakai Zeigler makes two point jump shot | 31-32 | |
3:28 | TV timeout | |||
3:14 | Quincy Guerrier misses two point hook shot | |||
3:12 | Jordan Gainey defensive rebound | |||
2:58 | Jordan Gainey misses three point jump shot | |||
2:56 | Quincy Guerrier defensive rebound | |||
2:30 | Marcus Domask misses three point jump shot | |||
2:28 | Santiago Vescovi defensive rebound | |||
2:17 | Santiago Vescovi misses three point jump shot | |||
2:17 | Luke Goode defensive rebound | |||
2:17 | Jonas Aidoo personal foul (Luke Goode draws the foul) | |||
2:17 | +1 | Luke Goode makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 32-32 | |
2:17 | +1 | Luke Goode makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 33-32 | |
2:06 | +2 | Santiago Vescovi makes two point layup (Zakai Zeigler assists) | 33-34 | |
1:48 | Coleman Hawkins misses three point jump shot | |||
1:46 | Luke Goode offensive rebound | |||
1:41 | Terrence Shannon Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
1:39 | Volunteers defensive rebound | |||
1:21 | Josiah-Jordan James misses three point jump shot | |||
1:19 | Tobe Awaka offensive rebound | |||
1:08 | Josiah-Jordan James misses two point jump shot | |||
1:06 | Marcus Domask defensive rebound | |||
0:58 | Coleman Hawkins misses three point jump shot | |||
0:56 | Volunteers defensive rebound | |||
0:49 | Zakai Zeigler misses two point jump shot | |||
0:47 | Luke Goode defensive rebound | |||
0:22 | +3 | Luke Goode makes three point jump shot | 36-34 | |
0:22 | Volunteers 30 second timeout | |||
0:07 | Marcus Domask personal foul (Zakai Zeigler draws the foul) | |||
0:02 | Jordan Gainey misses three point jump shot | |||
0:00 | Tobe Awaka offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |