By Ken Cross
Midwest Region
(2) Tennessee 77 (15) Wofford 62
Rocky Top Reax: Tennessee took a 22-8 lead over the first 10 minutes of the game and never looked back as Chaz Lanier started with a pair of threes and two mid-range jumpers in that run. Lanier led the Volunteers with 29 points as he scored two of the Vols’ four baskets to expand the lead to 61-45 with 10:25 to play. Zakai Ziegler dictated his matchups as had 12 points and 12 assists with some solid defense in his 36 minutes.
Terrier’s Bark: Wofford won the Southern Conference Championship as the Terriers defeated Furman in the championship game last Saturday. Wofford fought back to within nine points on several occasions after Jeremy Lorentz’s layup cut the deficit to 64-55 with 8:19 remaining. Jackson Sivillis led the Terriers with 15 points while Corey Tripp netted 14.
Key Stats: Chaz Lanier had 10 of those game-high 29 points in the first ten minutes. When Lanier starts efficiently, he allows the Vols to dive into the leads and be able to dictate games. He was 11-of-22 from the field with six threes. The Vols shot 48 percent from the field and Wofford was 11-of-26 from three while the Vols made 10 of 28 three-point attempts. Tennessee found 14 points off of 11 Terriers turnovers while Wofford didnt score off of six Volunteers’ miscues.
Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes on the winning formula throughout games: “I think it goes back to the absolute focus, details, competitive spirit, working as hard as you can, and understanding the importance of every possession.”
Wofford head coach Dwight Perry on Tennessee’s containment of the Terriers: “They’re a really good, to your point, No. 1 three-point defense in the country. A good rebounding team. They frustrate you and bother you with how they play with not only their speed and quickness and length but also their physicality.”
(7) UCLA 72, (10) Utah State 47 –
‘Bruin’ A Decisive Win: Guard Skyy Clark appeared to have an advantage at guard as he and Eric Dailey,
Jr. led the balanced UCLA offense with 14 points each. The Bruins quickly took control with a 19-12 lead, thanks to Dylan Andrews, who hit two quick three-pointers at the beginning. After Utah State narrowed the Bruins’ lead to 27-25, Clark and Aday Mara propelled a 12-0 Bruins run that concluded with two slam dunks by Mara. UCLA extended their lead to as much as 26 before securing the victory.
Aggies’ Struggles: Utah State had a tough time navigating this Bruins’ defense. Leading scorer Ian Martinez was only 1-of-11 from the floor in 30 minutes. Deyton Albury scored eight points in a 10-2 Gaels run midway through the second half as they trailed 63-47 with 5:14 to go. Mason Flaslev led USU with 17 points and 10 rebounds in 37 minutes
Key Stats: UCLA held Utah State to 30 percent from the field and only 4-of-31 from three. The Aggies shot 48 percent from the floor on the season and averaged nine triples per contest. The Bruins assisted 22 of 28 shots and outscored Utah State, 19-9, from the bench. Utah State scored 17 points off of 16 offensive rebounds.
UCLA head coach Mick Cronin on guard Dylan Andrews second half injury after UCLA lost PG Sebastian Mack in the first half: “It scared me when Eric went out with the second foul. He’s a guy – him and Sebastian – they’re not afraid to say something to their teammates. They’re not quiet. And you saw Eric, in his 22 minutes, he was all over the damn place. You’ve got to have a guy … confidence matters.”
Aggies head coach Jerrod Calhoun on UCLA’s 12-0 first-half run: “We felt really good at that point in the game. We couldn’t make a shot, and it was within four. You know, so much sometimes when you are not making a shot it affects your defense. We let that happen tonight, and unfortunately, you know, we caught UCLA on a night that they made shots.