Jordan Gainey scored on a driving layup as time expired and finished with a career-high 23 points as No. 1 Tennessee extended its season-opening winning streak to 10 games, beating Illinois 66-64 on Saturday.
After Illinois tied the score at 64 on the second of Kasparas Jakucionis’ two free throws with 5.7 seconds left, Gainey took control. The Vols’ senior guard passed the ball to Igor Milicic, scooped it up and drove three-quarters of the length of the court and scored on Jakucionis as time expired.
Jordan Gainey’s coast-to-coast game-winner secures No. 1 Tennessee’s 66-64 win over Illinois
Chaz Lanier scored 17 points for Tennessee before fouling out with 3:42 left. Milicic pulled down 14 rebounds and a key steal and dunk with 1:32 left, putting the Vols up 64-62.
Tennessee won its first 10 games of a season for the first time in 25 years.
Jakucionis scored 22 points for Illinois (7-3). Tre White had 11 points and Kylan Boswell and Will Riley added 10 each.
Tennessee led 31-30 at halftime and finished 20 of 28 at the line. Illinois made 30 of 36 free throw attempts.
Takeaways
Tennessee: The Vols should maintain their No. 1 spot in the AP poll with this win.
Illinois: The Illini failed to win the rebounding battle for the first time this season, trailing 42-37.
Key moment
Tennessee hadn’t trailed by more than three points this season before falling behind 8-0 in the first half. The Vols rallied and moved ahead to 18-17.
Illinois Fighting Illini vs. No. 1 Tennessee Volunteers Highlights | FOX College Hoops
Key statistic
Tennessee is 9-1 in games in which they are ranked No. 1 in coach Rick Barnes’ 10 seasons and 10-2 all-time. Illinois fell to 3-23 all-time against No. 1-ranked teams.
To be continued
Tennessee hosts Western Carolina on Tuesday. Illinois faces Missouri on December 22 in St. Louis.
Associated Press reporting.
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