KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Jalen Jones scored 18 points and pulled down nine rebounds Saturday as Texas A&M outlasted Tennessee 67-61 for its fourth straight victory.
All four wins have come in Southeastern Conference competition, giving the Aggies (13-5, 4-2 SEC) their longest conference winning streak since moving from the Big 12 to the SEC in 2012.
Tennessee (12-6, 4-2) had cut a 17-point, second-half deficit down to five when Volunteers guard Kevin Punter missed a driving layup attempt with 1:13 remaining. Texas A&M went 5 of 6 from the free-throw line the rest of the way to seal the victory.
Danuel House scored 15 points and Alex Caruso added 13 for Texas A&M.
Punter scored 17 and Josh Richardson and Robert Hubbs each added 12 for Tennessee, which lost for just the second time in its last 10 games. Punter shot 5 of 9 for his 17 points, but his teammates went a combined 15 of 43.
Although this marked only the fourth time Tennessee has faced Texas A&M since the Aggies joined the SEC — they’ve met nine times overall — all of their previous matchups as conference rivals had proved memorable.
Tennessee won 93-85 at Texas A&M two seasons ago in the longest game in Vols history. Texas A&M swept both meetings last season with a 57-56 victory in Knoxville and a 68-65 overtime triumph at College Station.
This one wasn’t quite as suspenseful, but Tennessee did make it interesting in the final minutes.
Texas A&M had rallied from a halftime deficit in each of its last three wins, but the Aggies actually led 25-23 at the intermission after holding Tennessee to its lowest first-half point total of the season.
The Aggies opened the second half on a 20-5 run to grab a 17-point edge. Texas A&M continued stifling Tennessee’s offense while also taking command of the glass to create numerous second-chance opportunities.
Texas A&M outrebounded Tennessee 34-27 and outscored the Vols 30-10 in points in the paint. Tennessee had more 3-point shots (29) than two-point attempts (23).
Tennessee heated up down the stretch as it attempted to creep back into the game, but it couldn’t come all the way back.
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics