The University of Tennessee men’s basketball team notched its second consecutive victory Saturday at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The Volunteers (2-0) battled shooting woes against the Bearcats, but they manufactured enough offense to capture a 65-56 victory and avenge last season’s, 78-66, loss to Cincinnati (2-2).
The Big Orange shot 32.2 percent from the floor and made 2-of-12 shot attempts from beyond the 3-point arc in the contest.
Redshirt senior forward John Wilkerson overcame early offensive struggles to finish with a double-double. He finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds and was 4-for-11 from the floor.
The Vols won the game with a stingy defense and going 25-for-30 from the free throw line.
Tennessee did manage to get the Bearcats into foul trouble and boast a balanced scoring attack.
Freshman Jaden Springer scored 11 points, while Josiah-Jordan James and Yves Pons each scored eight. Pons, the reigning Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year, had four rebounds and two blocked shots.
Victor Bailey Jr. and Keon Johnson added seven points apiece for the Vols, who led 30-24 at halftime.
Jeremiah Davenport scored 11 points to pace Cincinnati.
[vertical-gallery id=32580]