Tennessee 83, SU 70
Both clubs suffered through slow starts at the offensive end. The Orangemen and Volunteers were tied six times in the first half, the last at 25-25. Tennessee broke away over the final 4:30 of the stanza by outscoring SU 11-4.
A three-point basket by DeShaun Williams narrowed the second-half gap to seven, at 45-38, but Syracuse was unable to get any closer.
Tennessee dominated the glass, finishing with a 52-26 rebound advantage. The Volunteers also put Syracuse in foul trouble and converted 34-of-47 shots from the charity stripe. The Orangemen managed just 12 points from the line.
Williams, who had a team-high 14 points in the first half, finished with 20. Preston Shumpert and Damone Brown also recorded double digits, with 14 and 13 points, respectively. Allen Griffin added eight points, nine assists and two steals.
Billy Celuck had a career-best four steals but fouled out in 18 minutes of action. Backup center Jeremy McNeil, as well as Brown and Williams, were also disqualified with five fouls.
