TENN

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Knecht leads No. 4 Tennessee to outright SEC crown with 66-59 win at No. 17 South Carolina

AP
Mar 06, 2024

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) Dalton Knecht happily wore his orange SEC Champs hat. He knows, however, that Tennessee's goals don't end with its first Southeastern Conference regular-season title in six years.

Knecht had 26 points, including a four-point play, as the fourth-ranked Volunteers withstood a late run by No. 17 South Carolina for a 66-59 victory Wednesday night.

The Gamecocks (24-6, 12-5 SEC) cut a 14-point second-half deficit to 59-56 on Meechie Johnson's inside shot with 1:13 to go. But the Vols (24-6, 14-3) hit seven foul shots the rest of the way to hold on and open a two-game cushion in the SEC with one to play.

It was satisfying performance for Knecht.

“It feels great,” he said of the team's championship. “We got the job done, but at the same time, the job's not done. We've got the SEC Tournament and the big one” in the NCAAs.

With Knecht hitting shots the way he did against South Carolina, Tennessee will be a hard out going forward.

“One thing about Dalton, he's not afraid,” Volunteers coach Rick Barnes said. “The guys feed off him. He gives them confidence.”

Knecht had plenty of confidence-boosting moments in this one. With the Gamecocks trailing 24-22 right before halftime, Knecht hit three 3-pointers over four possessions as the Vols used an 11-2 burst to open a double-digit lead.

After the Gamecocks rallied back within six, Knecht hit his fifth 3, got fouled and made the free throw.

“That was my first in a long time,” he said, smiling. “Connect four.”

Tennessee shared the regular-season title six years ago with Auburn. The last time the Vols had won it outright was 2008.

Johnson led South Carolina with 18 points.

The Gamecocks needed a win over Tennessee - they won at Rocky Top in January - to tie for first in the SEC, a season after going 11-21. They were picked last in the media preseason poll this past October.

Freshman forward Collin Murray-Boyles, who had his second straight double double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, said the team was disappointed its run at a regular-season title came up short.

“It's never going to be easy” to put that aside, he said. “But we just have to focus on the next part.”

BIG PICTURE

Tennessee: The Vols are hard to stop when Knecht is hitting timely shots from outside. And he's got some help with forward Jonas Aidoo and guard Zakai Zeigler, who combined for 27 points and 14 rebounds.

South Carolina: It's been a memorable season already for the Gamecocks with an unexpected title chase in coach Lamont Paris' second season. Ahead is a likely NCAA Tournament berth, their first since a Final Four run in 2017.

TEAM TURNAROUND

Barnes said he told Paris that if he had a vote, he'd pick Paris for national coach of the year. It's hard to dispute. The Gamecocks have improved by 13 wins from Paris' debut season and have victories against ranked SEC opponents in Kentucky, Tennessee and Florida this season. The Gamecocks still have a chance at a top-four seed and a double-bye for next week's SEC Tournament.

UP NEXT

Tennessee finishes the regular season at home against No. 15 Kentucky on Saturday.

South Carolina goes on the road to close the season against Mississippi State.

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1st Half
TENN
Volunteers
35
SCAR
Gamecocks
24

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Jonas Aidoo vs. Collin Murray-Boyles (Volunteers gains possession)
19:47	+2	Dalton Knecht makes two point layup	2-0
19:27		Collin Murray-Boyles misses two point layup
19:25		Collin Murray-Boyles offensive rebound
19:17	+2	Meechie Johnson makes two point layup	2-2
18:50	+2	Jonas Aidoo makes two point jump shot (Zakai Zeigler assists)	4-2
18:37		Meechie Johnson misses three point jump shot
18:35		Collin Murray-Boyles offensive rebound
18:34		Josiah-Jordan James blocks Collin Murray-Boyles's two point layup
18:32		Josiah-Jordan James defensive rebound
18:16		Zakai Zeigler misses three point jump shot
18:14		B.J. Mack defensive rebound
17:53		Zachary Davis misses three point jump shot
17:51		Zakai Zeigler defensive rebound
17:32		Santiago Vescovi misses three point jump shot
17:30		Collin Murray-Boyles defensive rebound
17:15		Meechie Johnson misses three point jump shot
17:13		Zakai Zeigler defensive rebound
17:07	+2	Jonas Aidoo makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Santiago Vescovi assists)	6-2
16:38		Collin Murray-Boyles misses two point driving hook shot
16:36		Dalton Knecht defensive rebound
16:29		Dalton Knecht misses two point layup
16:27		Jonas Aidoo offensive rebound
16:18		Jonas Aidoo misses two point turnaround hook shot
16:16		Jonas Aidoo offensive rebound
16:15		Jonas Aidoo misses two point jump shot
16:13		Zachary Davis defensive rebound
16:08	+3	B.J. Mack makes three point jump shot (Collin Murray-Boyles assists)	6-5
16:00	+3	Dalton Knecht makes three point jump shot	9-5
15:32		Zachary Davis misses three point jump shot
15:30		Zakai Zeigler defensive rebound
15:21		Zakai Zeigler turnover (bad pass)
15:21		TV timeout
14:57		Ta'Lon Cooper misses two point layup
14:55		Ta'Lon Cooper offensive rebound
14:50	+2	Collin Murray-Boyles makes two point dunk (Ta'Lon Cooper assists)	9-7
14:28	+2	Tobe Awaka makes two point layup (Dalton Knecht assists)	11-7
14:00	+3	Ta'Lon Cooper makes three point jump shot	11-10
13:39	+2	Zakai Zeigler makes two point floating jump shot	13-10
13:14		B.J. Mack misses two point driving hook shot
13:12		Jahmai Mashack defensive rebound
13:06		Josiah-Jordan James misses two point alley-oop dunk
13:04		Tobe Awaka offensive rebound
13:01		Dalton Knecht offensive foul
13:01		Dalton Knecht turnover (offensive foul)
12:45		Jacobi Wright misses three point jump shot
12:43		Josiah-Jordan James defensive rebound
12:39		Josh Gray shooting foul (Josiah-Jordan James draws the foul)
12:39	+1	Josiah-Jordan James makes regular free throw 1 of 2	14-10
12:39	+1	Josiah-Jordan James makes regular free throw 2 of 2	15-10
12:22		Jacobi Wright misses two point floating jump shot
12:20		Meechie Johnson offensive rebound
12:16		Meechie Johnson misses three point jump shot
12:14		Josh Gray offensive rebound
12:14		Jordan Gainey personal foul (Josh Gray draws the foul)
12:04		Zachary Davis misses three point jump shot
12:02		Volunteers defensive rebound
12:00		TV timeout
11:52		Jordan Gainey turnover (bad pass)
11:23	+3	Zachary Davis makes three point jump shot (Meechie Johnson assists)	15-13
10:58		Dalton Knecht misses two point layup
10:56		Tobe Awaka offensive rebound
10:50		Tobe Awaka misses two point turnaround hook shot
10:48		Josh Gray defensive rebound
10:40	+2	Meechie Johnson makes two point layup	15-15
10:23		Dalton Knecht misses two point pullup jump shot
10:21		Meechie Johnson defensive rebound
10:21		Tobe Awaka personal foul (Meechie Johnson draws the foul)
9:57		Zachary Davis turnover (lost ball) (Jonas Aidoo steals)
9:48		Zakai Zeigler misses three point jump shot
9:46		Jordan Gainey offensive rebound
9:38	+2	Jonas Aidoo makes two point jump shot (Jordan Gainey assists)	17-15
9:12		B.J. Mack misses three point jump shot
9:10		Zakai Zeigler defensive rebound
9:04	+2	Jonas Aidoo makes two point pullup jump shot (Jordan Gainey assists)	19-15
8:48		Ta'Lon Cooper offensive foul
8:48		Ta'Lon Cooper turnover (offensive foul)
8:31		Zakai Zeigler misses three point jump shot
8:29		Jonas Aidoo offensive rebound
8:17		Santiago Vescovi misses three point jump shot
8:15		Ta'Lon Cooper defensive rebound
8:12		Zakai Zeigler personal foul (Ta'Lon Cooper draws the foul)
7:49	+2	Collin Murray-Boyles makes two point reverse layup	19-17
7:44		Jacobi Wright blocks Jonas Aidoo's two point layup
7:42		Jacobi Wright defensive rebound
7:32	+2	B.J. Mack makes two point layup (Jacobi Wright assists)	19-19
7:16	+3	Jordan Gainey makes three point jump shot (Zakai Zeigler assists)	22-19
6:59		Jordan Gainey personal foul (Zachary Davis draws the foul)
6:59		TV timeout
6:41		Tobe Awaka blocks B.J. Mack's two point layup
6:39		Josiah-Jordan James defensive rebound
6:19		Tobe Awaka misses two point layup
6:17		Myles Stute defensive rebound
5:51		Josiah-Jordan James blocks Collin Murray-Boyles's two point turnaround hook shot
5:49		Zakai Zeigler defensive rebound
5:37		Zakai Zeigler misses two point layup
5:35		Collin Murray-Boyles defensive rebound
5:26		Jacobi Wright misses three point jump shot
5:24		Santiago Vescovi defensive rebound
5:18		Myles Stute shooting foul (Josiah-Jordan James draws the foul)
5:18	+1	Josiah-Jordan James makes regular free throw 1 of 2	23-19
5:18	+1	Josiah-Jordan James makes regular free throw 2 of 2	24-19
5:00		Collin Murray-Boyles turnover (bad pass)
4:41		Tobe Awaka misses two point dunk
4:39		Collin Murray-Boyles defensive rebound
4:18		Meechie Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Jahmai Mashack steals)
3:54		Jordan Gainey turnover (lost ball) (Collin Murray-Boyles steals)
3:44	+3	Myles Stute makes three point jump shot (Jacobi Wright assists)	24-22
3:30	+3	Dalton Knecht makes three point jump shot (Jahmai Mashack assists)	27-22
3:07		Ta'Lon Cooper misses three point jump shot
3:05		Collin Murray-Boyles offensive rebound
2:58		Meechie Johnson misses three point jump shot
2:56		Jordan Gainey defensive rebound
2:36		Jahmai Mashack misses two point driving hook shot
2:34		Jacobi Wright defensive rebound
2:26		Myles Stute misses three point jump shot
2:24		Josiah-Jordan James defensive rebound
2:11		Myles Stute personal foul (Dalton Knecht draws the foul)
2:11		TV timeout
2:00	+3	Dalton Knecht makes three point jump shot (Zakai Zeigler assists)	30-22
1:32		Zachary Davis misses three point jump shot
1:30		Santiago Vescovi defensive rebound
1:09	+3	Dalton Knecht makes three point jump shot (Zakai Zeigler assists)	33-22
0:49		Myles Stute offensive foul
0:49		Myles Stute turnover (offensive foul)
0:33		Dalton Knecht misses three point jump shot
0:31		Jacobi Wright defensive rebound
0:15	+2	Meechie Johnson makes two point floating jump shot	33-24
0:01	+2	Zakai Zeigler makes two point stepback jump shot	35-24
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
TENN
Volunteers
31
SCAR
Gamecocks
35

Time		Play	Score
19:33		B.J. Mack misses three point jump shot
19:31		Santiago Vescovi defensive rebound
19:16		Collin Murray-Boyles blocks Jonas Aidoo's two point dunk
19:14		Collin Murray-Boyles defensive rebound
18:55		Dalton Knecht blocks B.J. Mack's two point layup
18:53		Santiago Vescovi defensive rebound
18:31		Dalton Knecht misses two point layup
18:29		Jonas Aidoo offensive rebound
18:21		Collin Murray-Boyles blocks Jonas Aidoo's two point layup
18:19		Ta'Lon Cooper defensive rebound
18:14		B.J. Mack misses two point layup
18:12		Josiah-Jordan James defensive rebound
17:58	+2	Dalton Knecht makes two point pullup jump shot	37-24
17:34	+2	Meechie Johnson makes two point layup	37-26
17:19		Dalton Knecht misses two point jump shot
17:18		Jonas Aidoo offensive rebound
17:18		B.J. Mack personal foul (Jonas Aidoo draws the foul)
17:18	+1	Jonas Aidoo makes regular free throw 1 of 2	38-26
17:18		Jonas Aidoo misses regular free throw 2 of 2
17:18		Jacobi Wright defensive rebound
16:57	+2	Collin Murray-Boyles makes two point layup (Meechie Johnson assists)	38-28
16:32		Josiah-Jordan James misses three point jump shot
16:30		Ta'Lon Cooper defensive rebound
16:22		Meechie Johnson misses two point layup
16:20		Jonas Aidoo defensive rebound
16:02		Santiago Vescovi turnover (bad pass) (Jacobi Wright steals)
15:43		Jump ball. B.J. Mack vs. Santiago Vescovi (Santiago Vescovi gains possession)
15:43		B.J. Mack turnover (lost ball) (Santiago Vescovi steals)
15:43		TV timeout
15:22		Josh Gray personal foul
14:50	+2	Dalton Knecht makes two point dunk (Zakai Zeigler assists)	40-28
14:34		Gamecocks turnover (shot clock violation)
14:21		Dalton Knecht misses three point jump shot
14:19		Gamecocks defensive rebound
14:15	+3	Myles Stute makes three point jump shot (Josh Gray assists)	40-31
14:07		Dalton Knecht misses three point jump shot
14:05		Josiah-Jordan James offensive rebound
13:51		Collin Murray-Boyles blocks Josiah-Jordan James's two point layup
13:49		Josh Gray defensive rebound
13:38		Josiah-Jordan James personal foul (Josh Gray draws the foul)
13:38	+1	Josh Gray makes regular free throw 1 of 2	40-32
13:38		Josh Gray misses regular free throw 2 of 2
13:38		Jonas Aidoo defensive rebound
13:19		Dalton Knecht misses two point jump shot
13:17		Josh Gray defensive rebound
13:13		Josh Gray misses two point layup
13:12		Josh Gray offensive rebound
13:11		Myles Stute misses two point jump shot
13:09		Jonas Aidoo defensive rebound
13:00		Dalton Knecht turnover (lost ball) (Myles Stute steals)
12:56	+2	Collin Murray-Boyles makes two point layup	40-34
12:42		Volunteers 30 second timeout
12:42		TV timeout
12:33		Dalton Knecht misses two point layup
12:31		Jahmai Mashack offensive rebound
12:29		Jahmai Mashack misses two point layup
12:27		Gamecocks defensive rebound
12:04		Ta'Lon Cooper misses three point jump shot
12:02		Volunteers defensive rebound
11:40		Ta'Lon Cooper personal foul
11:40		TV timeout
11:40	+1	Zakai Zeigler makes regular free throw 1 of 2	41-34
11:40	+1	Zakai Zeigler makes regular free throw 2 of 2	42-34
11:18		Ta'Lon Cooper misses three point jump shot
11:16		Dalton Knecht defensive rebound
10:58		Collin Murray-Boyles personal foul (Tobe Awaka draws the foul)
10:56	+3	Dalton Knecht makes three point jump shot (Zakai Zeigler assists)	45-34
10:56		Zachary Davis shooting foul (Dalton Knecht draws the foul)
10:56	+1	Dalton Knecht makes regular free throw 1 of 1	46-34
10:41		Meechie Johnson misses two point pullup jump shot
10:39		Tobe Awaka defensive rebound
10:32		Dalton Knecht misses three point jump shot
10:30		Gamecocks defensive rebound
10:04		Ta'Lon Cooper misses three point stepback jump shot
10:02		Jahmai Mashack defensive rebound
9:44	+2	Jonas Aidoo makes two point alley-oop dunk (Santiago Vescovi assists)	48-34
9:29		Jahmai Mashack shooting foul (Meechie Johnson draws the foul)
9:29	+1	Meechie Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	48-35
9:29		Meechie Johnson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
9:29		Santiago Vescovi defensive rebound
9:03		Zakai Zeigler misses three point jump shot
9:01		Meechie Johnson defensive rebound
8:53	+2	Meechie Johnson makes two point layup	48-37
8:35		Jonas Aidoo misses two point layup
8:33		Ta'Lon Cooper defensive rebound
8:25	+2	Ta'Lon Cooper makes two point driving layup	48-39
8:08	+3	Zakai Zeigler makes three point jump shot (Jahmai Mashack assists)	51-39
7:46		Jacobi Wright turnover (lost ball) (Santiago Vescovi steals)
7:18		Jonas Aidoo misses two point jump shot
7:16		B.J. Mack defensive rebound
7:05		Jahmai Mashack personal foul (Meechie Johnson draws the foul)
7:05		TV timeout
7:01	+2	Collin Murray-Boyles makes two point dunk (Jacobi Wright assists)	51-41
6:35		Santiago Vescovi turnover (bad pass) (Collin Murray-Boyles steals)
6:24		Santiago Vescovi personal foul (Meechie Johnson draws the foul)
6:08		Santiago Vescovi personal foul (Meechie Johnson draws the foul)
6:07		Jacobi Wright turnover (bad pass) (Zakai Zeigler steals)
5:53		Meechie Johnson shooting foul (Dalton Knecht draws the foul)
5:53	+1	Dalton Knecht makes regular free throw 1 of 2	52-41
5:53	+1	Dalton Knecht makes regular free throw 2 of 2	53-41
5:38		Meechie Johnson misses two point layup
5:36		Collin Murray-Boyles offensive rebound
5:30	+3	Ta'Lon Cooper makes three point jump shot (Collin Murray-Boyles assists)	53-44
5:08		Dalton Knecht misses two point floating jump shot
5:06		Collin Murray-Boyles defensive rebound
4:45		Meechie Johnson misses three point jump shot
4:43		Dalton Knecht defensive rebound
4:27		B.J. Mack personal foul (Zakai Zeigler draws the foul)
4:27	+1	Zakai Zeigler makes regular free throw 1 of 1	54-44
4:27	+1	Zakai Zeigler makes regular free throw 2 of 2	55-44
4:06		Santiago Vescovi shooting foul (Jacobi Wright draws the foul)
4:06		Jacobi Wright misses regular free throw 1 of 2
4:06	+1	Jacobi Wright makes regular free throw 2 of 2	55-45
3:37		Dalton Knecht misses three point jump shot
3:35		Volunteers offensive rebound
3:35		Volunteers turnover (shot clock violation)
3:35		TV timeout
3:22		Meechie Johnson misses three point jump shot
3:20		Meechie Johnson offensive rebound
3:18	+2	Meechie Johnson makes two point layup	55-47
2:51	+2	Jonas Aidoo makes two point driving hook shot (Zakai Zeigler assists)	57-47
2:38		Meechie Johnson misses two point layup
2:37		Ta'Lon Cooper offensive rebound
2:35	+3	B.J. Mack makes three point jump shot (Ta'Lon Cooper assists)	57-50
2:34		Gamecocks 30 second timeout
2:09	+2	Dalton Knecht makes two point turnaround jump shot	59-50
1:57	+3	Ta'Lon Cooper makes three point jump shot (Meechie Johnson assists)	59-53
1:56		Gamecocks 30 second timeout
1:35		Dalton Knecht misses three point jump shot
1:33		Collin Murray-Boyles defensive rebound
1:22		Jonas Aidoo shooting foul (Collin Murray-Boyles draws the foul)
1:22	+1	Collin Murray-Boyles makes regular free throw 1 of 2	59-54
1:22		Collin Murray-Boyles misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:22		Ta'Lon Cooper offensive rebound
1:12	+2	Meechie Johnson makes two point layup	59-56
0:47		Meechie Johnson shooting foul (Jonas Aidoo draws the foul)
0:47	+1	Jonas Aidoo makes regular free throw 1 of 1	60-56
0:47		Jonas Aidoo misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:47		Meechie Johnson defensive rebound
0:39		Meechie Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Jonas Aidoo steals)
0:38		Zachary Davis personal foul (Zakai Zeigler draws the foul)
0:38		Jonas Aidoo misses regular free throw 1 of 1
0:38		Ta'Lon Cooper defensive rebound
0:30		Ta'Lon Cooper misses three point jump shot
0:28		Jonas Aidoo defensive rebound
0:27		B.J. Mack personal foul (Santiago Vescovi draws the foul)
0:27	+1	Santiago Vescovi makes regular free throw 1 of 2	61-56
0:27	+1	Santiago Vescovi makes regular free throw 2 of 2	62-56
0:18		Jahmai Mashack shooting foul (Meechie Johnson draws the foul)
0:18		Meechie Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:18	+1	Meechie Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	62-57
0:14		Meechie Johnson personal foul (Zakai Zeigler draws the foul)
0:14	+1	Zakai Zeigler makes regular free throw 1 of 2	63-57
0:14	+1	Zakai Zeigler makes regular free throw 2 of 2	64-57
0:06	+2	Meechie Johnson makes two point layup	64-59
0:06		Collin Murray-Boyles personal foul (Josiah-Jordan James draws the foul)
0:06	+1	Josiah-Jordan James makes regular free throw 1 of 2	65-59
0:06	+1	Josiah-Jordan James makes regular free throw 2 of 2	66-59
0:02		Meechie Johnson misses three point jump shot
0:02		Collin Murray-Boyles offensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Collin Murray-Boyles offensive rebound