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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Tennessee basketball is trying to keep its season going into the second weekend of March Madness.
The No. 2 Vols (25-8) face No. 7 seed Texas (21-12) on Saturday (8 p.m. ET, CBS) at Spectrum Center for a trip to the Sweet 16 in Detroit.
Vols coach Rick Barnes coached at Texas for 17 seasons and remains the winningest coach in program history with 402 wins. Barnes has won 200 games in nine seasons at Tennessee.
Tennessee and Texas have played in three straight seasons. The Vols and Longhorns split a pair of Big 12/SEC Challenge meetings in January 2022 and January 2023. Tennessee won in Knoxville 82-71 after losing 52-51 in Austin in the first meeting of Barnes’ tenure.
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Tennessee basketball live score updates vs. Texas
FINAL: Tennessee survives, moves onto Sweet 16
Texas clawed to within a point at 56-55 with a Max Abmas layup, then fouled three times to get Tennessee to the bonus.
Jonas Aidoo went to the line for a 1-and-1 and drained both for a 3-point lead. Abmas wildly missed a running 3 with 10 seconds to play, and Dalton Knecht grabbed the rebound, was fouled and knocked down the free throws.
Tyrese Hunter then knocked down a long pull-up 3-pointer to cut the Vols’ lead to 60-58 with 4.2 seconds left. After a timeout, Tennessee inbounded cleanly to Dalton Knecht. The SEC Player of the Year made both free throws, and the Vols clinched the 62-58 win.
Tennessee next plays against the Creighton/Oregon winner in Detroit next week. The Bluejays and Ducks are playing Saturday night on TBS.
Tennessee 55, Texas 53 with 1:44 left second half | Going to the wire
Dylan Disu hits his first 3-pointer of the game, and the Longhorns follow it up by forcing a Tennessee missed shot and a transition layup by Tyrese Hunter. This is as close as the score has been in a while.
Tennessee 53, Texas 48 with 3:12 left second half | Vols finally hit a couple 3-pointers
Dalton Knecht and Josiah-Jordan James hit 3-pointers in a three-possession span, and the Vols lead climbed to 9 at one point. But Texas scores a couple in a row to cut the lead to 5. They’ll have the ball out of the final media timeout.
Tennessee is close to another Sweet 16. Maybe five defensive stops away?
Tennessee 47, Texas 42 with 6:00 left second half | Vols can’t buy a 3-pointer
Tennessee is now 1-of-21 from 3, with Dalton Knecht at 0-of-7. A Max Abmas 3-pointer got Texas to within 3, but a Jonas Aidoo dunk pushed the lead back to 5.
Knecht has 11 points despite the 3-point slump. He and Tobe Awaka (10 points) are the only players in double figures for Tennessee.
Tennessee 40, Texas 31 with 11:13 left second half | Vols in control
Tennessee is starting to find some room on the offensive end, and especially when Dalton Knecht attacks the offensive glass.
Tobe Awaka also just rejected a Tennessee dunk attempt. The Vols lead is 9.
HALFTIME: Tennessee 28, Texas 19
Good finish to the half for the Vols. After a Brock Cunningham Flagrant 1 foul and made free throws, Zakai Zeigler knocks down the first 3-pointer of the game for Tennessee.
Texas’ offense is disorganized because of the Volunteers’ pressure.
Any half where Dalton Knecht and Zeigler score four points each and the Vols still lead by 9 is a good thing for Tennessee.
Tennessee 21, Texas 17 with 2:19 left first half | Can anyone make a shot?
Both teams cannot make a shot, but the defense has made it difficult too for each.
Zakai Zeigler had a 3-point attempt roll in and out. Both he and Dalton Knecht have not made a shot. The Vols are 0-of-10 from 3. Tennessee should expect those numbers to obviously change, but a dangerous game to play.
Tobe Awaka returned to the game and picked up his third foul on the offensive glass. He’ll sit for a while.
Tennessee 16, Texas 14 with 7:22 left first half | Vols can’t waste this first half defense
Tennessee has had the optimal amount of energy defensively and it shows in the box score, but this offensive execution is an issue.
The Vols need Dalton Knecht to get going. He is 0-for-4 and just forced up an awkward midrange shot at the end of the shot clock that was no good. Who will step up?
Tobe Awaka picked up his second foul and is sitting on the bench.
Tennessee 10, Texas 6 with 11:38 left first half | A grind on both ends
Nothing is coming easy on either end for either team. The Vols have been very good and aggressive defensively but need to find better shots offensively.
Tobe Awaka has six points and three offensive rebounds. Dalton Knecht is scoreless. But it is early.
Tennessee 4, Texas 3 with 15:54 left first half | Slow start for both offenses
The Vols lead 4-3 at the first media timeout. Jonas Aidoo has one of the two early baskets for the Vols but also has two turnovers.
Texas’ Dylan Disu, the Vanderbilt transfer, has the lone 3-pointer for the Longhorns so far.
What channel is Tennessee basketball vs. Texas on today?
Tennessee basketball vs. Texas start time
- Date: Saturday, March 23
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.
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