LEXINGTON, Ky. — Chaz Lanier gathered in the pass from Zakai Zeigler and turned toward the basket on the south end of Rupp Arena.

His patented quick release soon followed.

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Lanier's shot laced through and 2-seed Tennessee had landed the final blow against pesky 15-seed Wofford in the Vols' 77-62 victory that will move them on to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.

Lanier also landed in the program record books.

It was his sixth-made 3-pointer in a 29-point outing, tying Dalton Knecht, Santiago Vescovi and Chris Lofton for the most made threes by a Tennessee player in an NCAA Tournament game.

Lofton set the record against Wichita State in the 2006 tournament. He tied it a year later vs. Ohio State, before Vesocvi matched the record in First Round game against Longwood in 2022. Knecht added his name to the list in the Vols' Elite Eight loss to Purdue last season.

Lanier wasn't aware that he had joined them until he was settled into a chair infront of reporters outside of the Tennessee locker room Thursday night.

"That's crazy. I didn't know that," he said. "Definitely surrounded by great company. It's a blessing. That's all I can say. It's a blessing."

MORE FROM VOLREPORT: Everything Rick Barnes, Tennessee players said after First Round win over Wofford

Every shot the fifth-year guard and recently named SEC Newcomer of the Year made was key in the Vols (28-7) holding off the Terriers (19-16).

Lanier hit mid-range jumpers, frustrating a Wofford team that might have been one or two stops away from making the Vols uncomfortable down the stretch. He set the tone, like he did for three-straight days in Nashville in the SEC Tournament last weekend, with 13 points 10 minutes into the first half.

When Tennessee needed a shot in the arm, Lanier provided it. And now it will play for its third-straight Sweet 16 berth against either 7-seed UCLA or 10-seed Utah State on Saturday.

"I just try to stay where my feet are planted everyday," Lanier said. "Just continue to love on my teammates and have fun and enjoy this process."

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