Freshman Jaden Springer scored a career-high 30 points to lift the short-handed Tennessee men’s basketball team to a key Southeastern Conference victory.
The No. 16 Volunteers, who were without senior center Yves Pons, darted out to a fast start. UT had to hold off a late surge from Georgia and claim an 89-81 victory over the Bulldogs Wednesday night at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Pons missed the game due to an ankle injury, but it was Tennessee’s guards that provided a balanced scoring attack to help the Vols (14-4, 7-4 SEC) to victory over Georgia (12-7,-5-7), who came to Knoxville riding a crest that had seen them win three consecutive conference games.
Springer was one of four Tennessee players to post double figures in the scoring column.
Sophomore point guard Santiago Vescovi had 19 points and went 3-for-7 from beyond the 3-point arc. He was also a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line and made four big foul shots down the stretch after Georgia had clawed its way back into the contest.
Josiah-Jordan James finished with 18 points. Reigning SEC Freshman of the Week Keon Johnson finished the game with 11 points.
Senior John Fulkerson scored four points for the Big Orange, which had a 44-26 lead at halftime. He had a team-high eight rebounds and dished out four assists.
K.D. Johnson led the Bulldogs with 22 points.