INDIANAPOLIS — Two nights ahead of Tennessee basketball's Sweet 16 bout with Kentucky, the Vols took in some NBA action.

As the Lakers defeated the Pacers 120-119 on ESPN, Tennessee was able to take in the game from the stands.

This gave the team an up-close view of former Vol Dalton Knecht who is in his rookie season with Los Angeles.

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This meant Knecht's teammates from his lone season with Tennessee, Zakai Zeigler, Jahmai Mashack, Jordan Gainey, Cade Phillips, J.P. Estrella and more got to catch up ith someone they spent a year with in Knoxville.

After the game, the entire current Vols squad met with Knecht and took a photo on the floor. It also let some NBA-hopeful players take in a game in person.

"It was fun. Great game," Mashack said. "Obviously, the NBA is where you want to be, where I want to be. Obviously, I want to be able to continue to do great in the tournament, hopefully do well over there. It was a great experience seeing DK play, seeing and talking to him afterward. It was great."

In the game, Knecht dropped three points in just five minutes on the floor. He made his only attempt from the field, a 3-pointer, and grabbed a rebound.

In his year with the Vols, Knecht was a key piece of a team that went to the program's second Elite Eight.

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After the game, Knecht didn't give advice to the team, but he did show his excitement for what Tennessee is building toward a year removed from his tenure.

"DK didn't give me advice," Mashack said. "He was just smiling telling me he was happy for me. He's just excited for us."

While transfer forward Igor Milicic Jr. enjoyed seeing Knecht again despite not sharing the floor with him, it was the chance to see NBA stars such LeBron James and Luka Doncic.

With the game ending on a James tip-in at the buzzer, it made an interesting game even more memorable.

"It was good," Milicic said. "It was good to see DK, it was good to see LeBron, Luka, you don't see those guys every day. LeBron's game-winner was just insane. We were talking about he's never had a game below 10 points and then all of a sudden he's been quiet for three quarters and in the fourth quarter he goes for eight-straight and the game-winner. I was like, 'Oh my God.' It was insane."

Now, Tennessee is looking to win its own big games in Indianapolis. The Vols meet Kentucky inside Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday at 7:39 p.m. ET. The game will air on TBS/truTV.

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