Local Teams

John Fulkerson registered a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds and Jaden Springer chipped in 11 points as No. 12 Tennessee topped visiting Cincinnati 65-56 on Saturday afternoon in Knoxville, Tenn.

Playing just their second game after five previous postponements due to COVID-19 pandemic concerns within the program, the Volunteers (2-0) sputtered to 32.2 percent shooting, including 16.7 percent from 3-point range. But the Volunteers made 25 of 30 attempts from the free-throw line and outrebounded the Bearcats 45-34 to pull away down the stretch.

Trailing by five with under a minute to go, Cincinnati (2-2) missed a pair of 3-pointers before Tennessee grabbed the rebound, setting up a Fulkerson basket on the other end.

Jeremiah Davenport led Cincinnati with 14 points, while David DeJulius had 11 points and seven assists. Tari Eason chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds for the Bearcats, who shot 37.9 percent.

A quick, 6-0 run to start the second half pulled the Bearcats into a 30-30 tie, setting the tone for a tight finish. Tennessee surged ahead by six points with 9:59 to play before Cincinnati responded with an 8-0 run over the next 3:45.

The Volunteers took the lead for good with four straight free throws. An Yves Pons jumper with 2:50 remaining made it 57-53, snapping a Tennessee drought of 7:09 without a field goal.

Tennessee overcame 30.3 percent shooting (10-for-33) to take a 30-24 lead into halftime, closing the half on a 12-5 run. The Volunteers made just 2 of 12 attempts from close range in the first 20 minutes, but Keon Johnson provided a consistent scoring presence with seven points.

Cincinnati had 11 turnovers and 12 fouls in the first half but stayed afloat by making 5 of 14 attempts from 3-point range, converting as many treys in the first half as it did in the entirety of its three previous games. Davenport had 11 points, including three 3-pointers, helping fill the void as Keith Williams played just five minutes due to foul trouble.

The Bearcats lead the all-time series 6-2 but are 2-2 in Knoxville. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak in the series.

--Field Level Media