Zakai Zeigler made two game-deciding plays in the final 62 seconds Saturday.
The Tennessee basketball guard blocked a 3-point attempt out of a timeout from Texas A&M’s Wade Taylor IV with 1:02 to play at Reed Arena. Forty-one seconds later, Zeigler came out of a timeout and decisively knocked down a 3-point dagger to ensure the Vols would get their best road win of the season.
The No. 6 Vols grabbed a signature win at No. 7 Texas A&M, beating the Aggies 77-69 in a win that’ll help Tennessee in its chase for the first NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed in program history.
Chaz Lanier led the Vols (22-5, 9-5 SEC) with a season-high 30 points and a career-high eight 3-pointers. Zeigler had 16 points with 13 in the second half. He was 10-for-12 on free throws in the second half and had five assists with one turnover to mirror his second-half brilliance against Vanderbilt a week prior.
Jordan Gainey had 14 points with a pair of 3-pointers in the final 3:33 against Texas A&M (20-7, 9-5).
Lanier delivered a first half reminiscent of his first half against Baylor in the Baha Mar Championship in the Bahamas. He hit six 3-pointers, buoying a stagnant Tennessee offense into the game. He was 6-for-7 on 3-pointers and 8-for-10 shooting.
He made two more in the second half to hit a career-high eight 3-pointers. It was his fourth game with at least six 3-pointers at Tennessee.
Lanier’s seventh 3-pointer with 7:56 to play tied the game 51-51. He hit his eighth with 4:19 to play put Tennessee ahead 60-57.
Lanier made seven first-half 3-pointers against Baylor in November.
Texas A&M is the nation’s best offensive rebounding team. The Aggies got their share of their misses, grabbing 14 offensive rebounds on their 36 missed shots.
But Tennessee limited the Aggies’ second-chance scoring to only 10 points, minimizing the hard done by the offensive rebounds.
Tennessee was mired in misses and turnovers to open against Texas A&M. It opened 4-for-15 shooting with three Lanier 3-pointers.
He hit his fourth 3-pointer of the half with 7:15 before halftime to start a Tennessee run.
The Vols were 8-for-10 shooting to close the half. Lanier made five of the eight field goals, including three 3-pointers.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson or Bluesky @bymikewilson.bsky.social. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.
