On a Friday after Thanksgiving at home, it was a sleepy start for Tennessee against Tennessee Tech. The Volunteers were without Josiah-Jordan James and Justin Powell this afternoon, forcing Victor Bailey Jr. into the lineup.
Those two absences shortened up the bench, and really hurt Tennessee’s ability to shoot from the perimeter. The Vols began 0-10 from the three-point line, which predictably put them in a hole to start this game.
Tennessee Tech matched Tennessee in the first half, shooting 46 percent from the field to secure a lead. It was a small one at 36-35, but it was notable considering the 23 point spread from pregame.