Tennessee's Kevin Punter, who scored 17 points in Saturday's 67-61 loss to Texas A&M, drives against the Aggies' Jalen Jones.
photo by Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Texas A&M's 20-5 run to open the second half keyed the Aggies' 67-61 win over Tennessee on Saturday afternoon.
The Vols (12-6, 4-2 SEC) saw their three-game win streak come to an end before 16,547 at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Texas A&M won its fourth game in a row and improved to 13-5 overall and 4-2 in the SEC. Jalen Jones led the Aggies with 18 points and nine rebounds. Danuel House scored 15. Alex Caruso added 13 points and grabbed six rebounds.
“For whatever reason,” Vols coach Donnie Tyndall said, “the first six of eight minutes we didn’t have the energy level I would’ve expected us to have. They had great energy level. We got out-rebounded on our home floor and we shoot 52 balls and 29 are from three.
“Our will and mentality to drive the ball wasn’t good enough, but give Texas A&M a lot of credit for the way they defended. That’s a tough, gritty group.”
The Vols were led by Kevin Punter's game-high 17 points as he made 5-of-9 from the floor. Sophomore Robert Hubbs and senior Josh Richardson each scored 12 points.
Texas A&M's defense limited the Vols to just 38.5 from the floor overall and 37.9 (11-of-29) from 3-point range. The Aggies outrebounded the Vols, 34-27, and outscored them 30-10 in points in the paint.
“I’m proud of our guys,” Texas A&M coach Billy Kennedy said. “They came in her with a lot of confidence and executed the game plan against a very good Tennessee team. I thought we were able to hurt them inside in the first half
Up by a pair at the half, the Aggies connected on three consecutive early baskets in the second half to expand their lead to nine at 32-23 less than three minutes in.
A&M scored 20 of the first 25 points of the second half to open a 17-point lead eight minutes into the second half at 45-28. Jones and Caruso combined for 14 of the Aggies' points in the 20-5 run.
“Credit to their team,” Punter said. “Their guys handled our press pretty well. They executed. That’s pretty much about it.”
The Vols continued scrap and claw to get back into the game. 3-pointers by Punter and Richardson sliced their deficit to nine at 45-36 midway through the second half.
The Aggies responded with 8-2 spurt to regain at 15-point lead with 7:37 in the game as the Vols were held without a field goal for more nearly four minutes.
Tennessee got within five points at 60-55 on back-to-back 3-pointers by Hubbs and Richardson with less than two minutes to go.
The Vols had a chance to get the game to one possession, but Punter missed a layup with 1:13 on the clock. The Aggies took a 61-55 lead on a Jordan Green free throw with 1:05 left. A&M's House made four free throws in the final 50 seconds to seal the victory.
Texas A&M held a 25-23 edge at halftime with four players scoring five or more, led by Jones' six.
Tennessee struggled from the floor over the first 20 minutes, making 25 percent, making exactly 3-of-12 from both 2-point range and 3-point range. Punter led the Vols with eight points in the first half.
The Vols were a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line in the first half to keep them close.
A&M has now won the last three games in the series including a pair of last-second victories over Tennessee on Antwan Space 3-pointers. Space did not play on Saturday.
The Vols return to action on Tuesday as they travel to Fayetteville to take on Arkansas at 9 p.m. ET. That game airs on ESPNU and can be heard on the Vol Network.
Tennessee upset then-No. 19 Arkansas on Jan. 13, 74-69, in Knoxville.