Knecht scores 32 as No. 5 Tennessee rallies, beats struggling Vandy 75-62
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Jonas Aidoo had the best question for Dalton Knecht after his Tennessee teammate had his fourth game with at least 32 points this season and third in four games.
When will the graduate transfer from Northern Colorado score 40?
Knecht's answer: "Next question.”
The guard scored 12 straight in the second half and finished with 32 points, rallying fifth-ranked Tennessee past in-state rival Vanderbilt 75-62 on Saturday night.
“Teammates know what he’s capable of doing," Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said. "They obviously start looking for him.”
Tennessee trailed by as much as nine in the first half and 35-30 at halftime. Vanderbilt, winless in the Southeastern Conference, led 43-39 early in the second half.
Then the two-time reigning SEC player of the week took over. Knecht hit a 3. His turnaround jumper in the paint put the Vols ahead to stay at 44-43. He drove for a layup and finished his personal 12-5 run with another 3 to put Tennessee up 51-48 with 11:57 left.
Santiago Vescovi added 12 points as Tennessee (15-4, 5-1) won its fourth straight and 11th in 12 games. Zakai Zeigler and Jordan Gainey each had 10 points.
"We know he can score at will, so whenever he gets the ball something good is going to happen,” Zeigler said of Knecht.
Vanderbilt (5-14, 0-6) remains one of two winless programs in the SEC with its sixth straight loss to start league play. Coach Jerry Stackhouse said Knecht simply is a defensive challenge.
“His ability just to raise up and shoot over guys is why he’s getting the attention that he’s getting,” Stackhouse said. "Obviously, he’s playing at a high level. ... You haven’t had a lot of guys since my time here that probably can match that type of output.”
Tyrin Lawrence led the Commodores with 21 points. Ezra Manjon had 14 points.
Vanderbilt battled Tennessee hard, looking early much more like the squad that knocked off then-No. 6 Tennessee on a buzzer-beating 3 by Lawrence nearly a year ago at Memorial Gym.
These rivals separated by less than 200 miles went back and forth before a crowd loaded with Volunteer orange. Then Knecht got going, and the Vols finished it off leading by as much as 15 in the final 90 seconds.
“They told me it was going to kind of be like this, but I didn’t expect it to be like that," Knecht said of seeing so much Tennessee orange on the road. "So it’s really cool.”
BIG PICTURE
Tennessee: The Vols looked rusty after having a full week between games, though Vanderbilt had the same break with no issues early. The SEC's second-best free-throw shooters came in averaging 76.7% at the line. On the raised court at Memorial, they shot just 63.6% (14 of 22).
Vanderbilt: This was the Commodores' fourth ranked opponent and third in four games. They have dealt with injuries as one of four teams in the country to use 12 different starting lineups. Stackhouse has had a fully healthy roster for only two games coming into Saturday, and he said he loves his team despite this skid because they're improving.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Knecht's big second-half should help keep the Vols from slipping out of the top five.
UP NEXT
Tennessee: Hosts South Carolina on Tuesday night.
Vanderbilt visits No. 8 Auburn on Wednesday night.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Santiago Vescovi vs. Jason Rivera-Torres (Tyrin Lawrence gains possession) | |||
19:43 | +2 | Tyrin Lawrence makes two point layup | 0-2 | |
19:16 | Josiah-Jordan James misses two point jump shot | |||
19:14 | Ezra Manjon defensive rebound | |||
18:46 | +2 | Ezra Manjon makes two point jump shot | 0-4 | |
18:40 | +2 | Dalton Knecht makes two point layup | 2-4 | |
18:15 | +2 | Ezra Manjon makes two point layup | 2-6 | |
18:07 | Evan Taylor shooting foul (Dalton Knecht draws the foul) | |||
18:07 | Dalton Knecht misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
18:07 | +1 | Dalton Knecht makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 3-6 | |
17:45 | Ezra Manjon misses two point jump shot | |||
17:43 | Jonas Aidoo defensive rebound | |||
15:55 | Jump ball. (Volunteers gains possession) | |||
17:27 | +2 | Jonas Aidoo makes two point layup (Dalton Knecht assists) | 5-6 | |
17:07 | Ezra Manjon misses two point jump shot | |||
17:05 | Jonas Aidoo defensive rebound | |||
16:46 | Jonas Aidoo misses two point jump shot | |||
16:44 | Ven-Allen Lubin defensive rebound | |||
16:22 | Ven-Allen Lubin misses two point jump shot | |||
16:20 | Jonas Aidoo defensive rebound | |||
16:09 | Jonas Aidoo misses two point jump shot | |||
16:07 | Jason Rivera-Torres defensive rebound | |||
16:07 | Santiago Vescovi personal foul | |||
15:55 | Ezra Manjon offensive foul | |||
15:55 | Ezra Manjon turnover (offensive foul) | |||
15:55 | TV timeout | |||
15:38 | +3 | Jordan Gainey makes three point jump shot (Dalton Knecht assists) | 8-6 | |
15:07 | Ezra Manjon misses three point jump shot | |||
15:05 | Dalton Knecht defensive rebound | |||
14:53 | Dalton Knecht misses three point jump shot | |||
14:51 | Ezra Manjon defensive rebound | |||
14:46 | +2 | Ezra Manjon makes two point layup | 8-8 | |
14:25 | Jonas Aidoo turnover (lost ball) (Jason Rivera-Torres steals) | |||
14:15 | Jason Rivera-Torres misses two point jump shot | |||
14:13 | Jonas Aidoo defensive rebound | |||
13:57 | +3 | Zakai Zeigler makes three point jump shot (Jordan Gainey assists) | 11-8 | |
13:39 | +2 | Ezra Manjon makes two point layup | 11-10 | |
13:19 | Zakai Zeigler turnover (lost ball) (Ven-Allen Lubin steals) | |||
12:51 | Evan Taylor misses three point jump shot | |||
12:49 | Santiago Vescovi defensive rebound | |||
12:27 | Santiago Vescovi turnover (lost ball) (Evan Taylor steals) | |||
12:18 | Tobe Awaka shooting foul (Jason Rivera-Torres draws the foul) | |||
12:18 | +1 | Jason Rivera-Torres makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 11-11 | |
12:18 | +1 | Jason Rivera-Torres makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 11-12 | |
11:58 | Santiago Vescovi misses three point jump shot | |||
11:56 | Jason Rivera-Torres defensive rebound | |||
11:56 | Jahmai Mashack personal foul (Jason Rivera-Torres draws the foul) | |||
11:56 | TV timeout | |||
11:29 | Tasos Kamateros misses three point jump shot | |||
11:27 | Santiago Vescovi defensive rebound | |||
11:06 | Dalton Knecht misses two point layup | |||
11:04 | Tobe Awaka offensive rebound | |||
10:56 | +2 | Santiago Vescovi makes two point layup | 13-12 | |
10:48 | Tobe Awaka personal foul (JaQualon Roberts draws the foul) | |||
10:37 | JaQualon Roberts misses three point jump shot | |||
10:35 | Santiago Vescovi defensive rebound | |||
10:24 | Jordan Gainey misses three point jump shot | |||
10:22 | J.P. Estrella offensive rebound | |||
10:12 | +2 | Dalton Knecht makes two point layup | 15-12 | |
9:48 | +3 | Paul Lewis makes three point jump shot | 15-15 | |
9:39 | Tasos Kamateros shooting foul (Jordan Gainey draws the foul) | |||
9:39 | +1 | Jordan Gainey makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-15 | |
9:39 | +1 | Jordan Gainey makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 17-15 | |
9:13 | +2 | Tyrin Lawrence makes two point jump shot | 17-17 | |
9:00 | Dalton Knecht misses two point jump shot | |||
8:58 | Tyrin Lawrence defensive rebound | |||
8:55 | Tyrin Lawrence turnover (bad pass) (Zakai Zeigler steals) | |||
8:43 | JaQualon Roberts blocks Dalton Knecht's two point layup | |||
8:41 | Volunteers offensive rebound | |||
8:40 | +2 | Dalton Knecht makes two point layup (Zakai Zeigler assists) | 19-17 | |
8:10 | Paul Lewis misses two point jump shot | |||
8:08 | Josiah-Jordan James defensive rebound | |||
7:55 | Josiah-Jordan James misses three point jump shot | |||
7:53 | Josiah-Jordan James offensive rebound | |||
7:44 | +2 | Dalton Knecht makes two point layup | 21-17 | |
7:15 | Tyrin Lawrence misses three point jump shot | |||
7:13 | J.P. Estrella defensive rebound | |||
7:02 | Zakai Zeigler misses three point jump shot | |||
7:00 | Tyrin Lawrence defensive rebound | |||
6:49 | Jordan Williams misses three point jump shot | |||
6:47 | Josiah-Jordan James defensive rebound | |||
6:27 | Santiago Vescovi misses two point layup | |||
6:25 | J.P. Estrella offensive rebound | |||
6:22 | +2 | J.P. Estrella makes two point layup | 23-17 | |
6:02 | +2 | Tyrin Lawrence makes two point layup | 23-19 | |
6:02 | J.P. Estrella shooting foul (Tyrin Lawrence draws the foul) | |||
6:02 | TV timeout | |||
6:02 | +1 | Tyrin Lawrence makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 23-20 | |
5:48 | Jonas Aidoo misses two point jump shot | |||
5:46 | Tyrin Lawrence defensive rebound | |||
5:29 | +3 | Ven-Allen Lubin makes three point jump shot (Tyrin Lawrence assists) | 23-23 | |
5:05 | Ven-Allen Lubin blocks Jordan Gainey's two point layup | |||
5:03 | Ezra Manjon defensive rebound | |||
4:54 | +3 | Tyrin Lawrence makes three point jump shot | 23-26 | |
4:40 | Ven-Allen Lubin shooting foul (Zakai Zeigler draws the foul) | |||
4:40 | Zakai Zeigler misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
4:40 | +1 | Zakai Zeigler makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 24-26 | |
4:16 | Ezra Manjon misses two point jump shot | |||
4:14 | Ven-Allen Lubin offensive rebound | |||
4:09 | +2 | Ven-Allen Lubin makes two point layup | 24-28 | |
4:04 | Zakai Zeigler turnover (bad pass) (Tasos Kamateros steals) | |||
3:57 | Jason Rivera-Torres misses three point jump shot | |||
3:55 | Tasos Kamateros offensive rebound | |||
3:54 | TV timeout | |||
3:40 | Ven-Allen Lubin misses two point jump shot | |||
3:38 | Zakai Zeigler defensive rebound | |||
3:18 | Freddie Dilione V turnover (traveling) | |||
2:59 | Ven-Allen Lubin misses two point layup | |||
2:57 | Jonas Aidoo defensive rebound | |||
2:49 | +2 | Jonas Aidoo makes two point dunk (Santiago Vescovi assists) | 26-28 | |
2:32 | Evan Taylor misses three point jump shot | |||
2:30 | Zakai Zeigler defensive rebound | |||
2:18 | Dalton Knecht misses three point jump shot | |||
2:16 | Tyrin Lawrence defensive rebound | |||
2:11 | +3 | Evan Taylor makes three point jump shot (Tyrin Lawrence assists) | 26-31 | |
1:42 | Evan Taylor shooting foul (Dalton Knecht draws the foul) | |||
1:42 | Dalton Knecht misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
1:42 | Dalton Knecht misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
1:42 | Ezra Manjon defensive rebound | |||
1:17 | Zakai Zeigler shooting foul (Ezra Manjon draws the foul) | |||
1:17 | Rick Barnes technical foul | |||
1:17 | +1 | Ezra Manjon makes technical free throw 1 of 2 | 26-32 | |
1:17 | +1 | Ezra Manjon makes technical free throw 2 of 2 | 26-33 | |
1:17 | +1 | Ezra Manjon makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 26-34 | |
1:17 | +1 | Ezra Manjon makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 26-35 | |
1:05 | +2 | Dalton Knecht makes two point layup | 28-35 | |
0:42 | Ven-Allen Lubin misses two point jump shot | |||
0:40 | Santiago Vescovi defensive rebound | |||
0:19 | +2 | Jonas Aidoo makes two point layup | 30-35 | |
0:15 | Commodores 30 second timeout | |||
0:03 | Evan Taylor misses three point jump shot | |||
0:01 | Zakai Zeigler defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |