In a thrilling Sweet 16 matchup between Tennessee and Creighton, the Vols came out on top with an 82-75 victory to advance to the Elite Eight. The game started off close, with Creighton leading 35-34 at halftime. However, Tennessee’s defense and 3-point shooting ignited an 18-0 run in the second half, taking a 55-39 lead and seemingly controlling the game. Creighton tried to fight back by switching to a zone defense, cutting the deficit to three points, but Tennessee ultimately closed out the game strong with a 17-13 run to secure the win.
Dalton Knecht led the way for Tennessee with an impressive performance, scoring 24 points, grabbing five rebounds, dishing out five assists, and contributing on the defensive end with two steals and a block, all without committing a turnover. Zakai Zeigler also had a solid game with 18 points, six assists, and four rebounds while only turning the ball over once. Josiah-Jordan James added 17 points, including three 3-pointers, and took care of the ball well with zero turnovers. The Vols’ efficient offense, combined with their strong ball security (committing only four turnovers), proved to be key in the victory.
On the other side, Creighton put up a strong effort, shooting well from beyond the arc with an 11-of-23 performance. Baylor Scheierman led the team with 25 points, including four 3-pointers, and six rebounds. Steven Ashworth added 16 points, while Ryan Kalkbrenner tallied 14 points and seven rebounds. Trey Alexander struggled with his shooting, going 3-of-12 from the field, but still managed to contribute with 13 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. However, Creighton’s nine turnovers compared to Tennessee’s four ultimately made a significant difference in the outcome of the game.
This victory for Tennessee marks just the second Elite Eight appearance in program history and the first since 2010. The Vols will now face No. 1 seed Purdue in the Midwest regional final, setting up a showdown between Purdue’s elite offense and Tennessee’s strong defense. It promises to be a highly anticipated matchup between two talented teams vying for a spot in the Final Four. Tennessee’s ability to take care of the ball, knock down 3-pointers, and rely on their defensive prowess will be key factors as they look to continue their tournament run and potentially make program history with a Final Four appearance.
