Chaz Lanier sets new Tennessee single-season 3-point record

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WJHL) – No. 2 seed Tennessee kept its national championship hopes alive on Saturday night, handling No. 7 seed UCLA in the NCAA Tournament Second Round, 67-58.

Chaz Lanier led the Big Orange offense with 20 points, as he knocked down 4-of-5 three-point attempts. During the game, the senior transfer broke the program’s single-season three-point field goals record (119).

Zakai Zeigler added 15 points and six assists, while Jordan Gainey chipped in 13 points off the bench.

The Bruins came out firing from the opening tip, taking leads of 6-3 and 8-4, thanks to a few triples from Skyy Clark and Tyler Bilodeau. But, a quick burst from the UT offense helped the squad takes its first lead at 14-13 with 11:43 to play in the first half.

After a back-and-forth close to the opening half, the Vols closed on an 8-0 run to take a 32-25 lead into the locker room.

Early in the second half, Tennessee embarked on a 9-0 run – aided by a pair of Lanier threes – to expand the lead to 46-31 with 14:14 to play. A Zeigler triples with 5:15 remaining gave the Vols their largest lead of the night at 61-42.

The Bruins cut the deficit to as little as nine points late, but never truly threatened down the stretch.

Clark led UCLA with 18 points in defeat, while Bilodeau added 15.

Tennessee lost the turnover battle on the night, 18-11, but won the rebounding battle, 36-26.

The Vols will meet either No. 3 seed Kentucky or No. 6 seed Illinois in the Sweet 16. That game will be next weekend in Indianapolis.