Tennessee dominates Duke, punches ticket to Sweet 16
ORLANDO, Fla. — Start spreading the news.
Tennessee is heading to Madison Square Garden in New York City to play in its first Sweet 16 since 2019.
The No. 4-seeded Vols dominated No. 5-seeded Duke on Saturday, never trailing in the second half en route to an emphatic 65-52 NCAA Tournament Second Round win at the Amway Center in Orlando.
Forward Olivier Nkamhoua was the catalyst – scoring a game-high 27 points and helping Tennessee pull away down the stretch, never allowing Duke close the gap.
Tennessee outrebound the Blue Devils, 35-30.
Duke jumped out to a 6-2 lead with 3-pointers from Jeremy Roach and Dariq Whitehead, but it was one of a few scoring stretches that Tennessee overcame in the first half.
The other was a 9-0 Blue Devils run that put them in front 19-13 after the Vols went 1-of-9 three minute span.
Vescovi answered with a three, then opened the way for a strong close to the half.
Jonas Aidoo scored six points in the last four minutes of the period, including a layup just before the buzzer to send Tennessee into the intermission on a 14-2 run that gave the Vols a 27-21 lead.
That momentum carried over early into the second half.
Josiah-Jordan James knocked down a 3-pointer on the Vols' first possession and swelled the lead to nine, but Duke responded, stringing together a quick 10-3 run starting with Roach's three to pull within two with 15:40 left.
Nkamhoua hit an acrobatic shot and was fouled by Roach in the process to quell the Blue Devils. His ensuing free throw put Tennessee ahead 35-31 and was followed by a James jumper.
Duke only got back within five one other time from that point.
Nkamhoua continued to to take the game over down the stretch, and the Blue Devils' defense couldn't stop him.
He scored 13-straight points in four minute span, including scores on three consecutive possessions. That stretch included two 3-pointers that gave Tennessee an 11-point advantage with less than four minutes left.
Tennessee will play the winner of No. 16-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson and No. 9-seeded Florida Atlantic — who meet in the Second Round on Sunday — in the Sweet 16 next Thursday.
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