Tennessee fends off South Carolina run for 1st SEC title since 2018

Dalton Knecht fortunately wore his orange SEC champs hat. He is aware of, nonetheless, that Tennessee’s targets do not finish with its first Southeastern Convention regular-season title in six years.

Knecht had 26 factors, together with a four-point play, because the fourth-ranked Volunteers withstood a late run by No. 17 South Carolina for a 66-59 victory Wednesday night time.

The Gamecocks (24-6, 12-5 SEC) minimize a 14-point second-half deficit to 59-56 on Meechie Johnson’s inside shot with 1:13 to go. However the Vols (24-6, 14-3) hit seven free throws the remainder of the best way to carry on and open a two-game cushion within the SEC with one to play.

Tennessee shared the regular-season title six years in the past with Auburn. The final time the Vols had received it outright was 2008.

It was satisfying efficiency for Knecht.

“It feels nice,” he stated. “We obtained the job finished, however on the identical time, the job’s not finished. We have the SEC event and the massive one” within the NCAAs.

With Knecht hitting photographs the best way he did towards South Carolina, Tennessee can be a tough out.

“One factor about Dalton, he isn’t afraid,” Volunteers coach Rick Barnes stated. “The blokes feed off him. He offers them confidence.”

Knecht had loads of confidence-boosting moments on this one. With the Gamecocks trailing 24-22 proper earlier than halftime, Knecht hit three 3-pointers over 4 possessions because the Vols used an 11-2 burst to open a double-digit lead.

After the Gamecocks rallied again inside six, Knecht hit his fifth 3, obtained fouled and made the free throw.

“That was my first in a very long time,” he stated, smiling. “Join 4.”

In keeping with ESPN Stats & Info analysis, Knecht is the primary Tennessee participant to file 10 25-point video games in a season over the previous 25 seasons.

Johnson led South Carolina with 18 factors.

The Gamecocks wanted a win over Tennessee — they received at Rocky High in January — to tie for first within the SEC, a season after going 11-21. They had been picked final within the media preseason ballot this previous October.

Freshman ahead Collin Murray-Boyles, who had his second straight double-double with 11 factors and 11 rebounds, stated the group was disenchanted its run at a regular-season title got here up brief.

“It is by no means going to be straightforward” to place that apart, he stated. “However we simply should give attention to the subsequent half.”

Info from The Related Press was used on this story.