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Lanier and Zeigler lead No. 1 Tennessee past upset-minded Middle Tennessee 82-64

AP
Dec 23, 2024

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Chaz Lanier scored 23 points and Zakai Zeigler had 17 points and 15 assists to lead No. 1 Tennessee past upset-minded Middle Tennessee 82-64 on Monday night.

Felix Okpara added 12 points, Jordan Gainey had 10 and Igor Milicic Jr. grabbed 12 rebounds as the Volunteers (12-0) tied the second-best start in program history.

The Blue Raiders (9-4), looking like a top mid-major, got 24 points off the bench from Camryn Weston and 13 from Kamari Lands.

After trailing by double digits midway through the first half, Middle Tennessee went on a 12-3 run to take the lead. The Blue Raiders shot 50% (16 of 32) against one of the best defenses in the country and led 40-34 at halftime. Weston had 17 points. Okpara scored 10 for Tennessee, which shot 40.7% (11 of 27).

Middle Tennessee: Three key transfers have helped turned things around after the frustration of a 14-19 finish last season. The Blue Raiders have gotten instant production from Jlynn Counter (IUPUI), Lands (Arizona State) and Essam Mostafa (Coastal Carolina, TCU).

Tennessee: The Volunteers need to approach their next game with a sense of urgency. It’s the last opportunity to play before the Southeastern Conference schedule begins with a stern test from Arkansas. Tennessee must commit to helping its big men on the boards.

With about 13 minutes left, Lanier hit two free throws to give Tennessee a 52-51 lead. Less than a minute later, he drilled a 3-pointer to put the Vols up 55-51.

Weston, who wasn't in the Blue Raiders' starting lineup, came into the game averaging 10.7 points. He had 17 by halftime and finished with 24.

Middle Tennessee visits Florida International on Jan. 2, while the Vols host Norfolk State on Dec. 31.

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1st Half
MTSU
Blue Raiders
40
TENN
Volunteers
34

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Essam Mostafa vs. Felix Okpara (Volunteers gains possession)
19:31		Igor Milicic Jr. misses two point jump shot
19:29		Kamari Lands defensive rebound
19:01		Kamari Lands misses three point jump shot
18:59		Justin Bufford offensive rebound
18:49		Jlynn Counter misses three point jump shot
18:47		Volunteers defensive rebound
18:22		Essam Mostafa shooting foul (Igor Milicic Jr. draws the foul)
18:22		Igor Milicic Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
18:22	+1	Igor Milicic Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	0-1
17:57		Justin Bufford misses three point jump shot
17:55		Igor Milicic Jr. defensive rebound
17:47	+2	Felix Okpara makes two point dunk (Zakai Zeigler assists)	0-3
17:35	+2	Kamari Lands makes two point layup	2-3
17:27	+2	Felix Okpara makes two point dunk (Zakai Zeigler assists)	2-5
17:15	+2	Jestin Porter makes two point layup	4-5
16:47		Justin Bufford personal foul (Igor Milicic Jr. draws the foul)
16:35		Chaz Lanier misses two point layup
16:33		Jlynn Counter defensive rebound
16:20		Igor Milicic Jr. blocks Jestin Porter's two point layup
16:18		Cade Phillips defensive rebound
16:13	+3	Chaz Lanier makes three point jump shot (Zakai Zeigler assists)	4-8
15:44	+3	Kamari Lands makes three point jump shot	7-8
15:29	+3	Chaz Lanier makes three point jump shot (Igor Milicic Jr. assists)	7-11
15:06		Kamari Lands misses two point jump shot
15:04		Igor Milicic Jr. defensive rebound
14:57		Jordan Gainey misses three point jump shot
14:57		Chris Loofe defensive rebound
14:57		TV timeout
14:39		Darlinstone Dubar shooting foul (Chris Loofe draws the foul)
14:39	+1	Chris Loofe makes regular free throw 1 of 2	8-11
14:39		Chris Loofe misses regular free throw 2 of 2
14:39		Jordan Gainey defensive rebound
14:28		Chaz Lanier misses two point layup
14:26		Torey Alston defensive rebound
14:21		Justin Bufford misses three point jump shot
14:19		Jordan Gainey defensive rebound
14:08	+3	Darlinstone Dubar makes three point jump shot (Zakai Zeigler assists)	8-14
13:46		Jlynn Counter turnover (out of bounds)
13:27		Chaz Lanier misses three point jump shot
13:25		Chris Loofe defensive rebound
13:20	+2	Camryn Weston makes two point layup	10-14
13:09		Cade Phillips misses two point layup
13:07		Camryn Weston defensive rebound
13:02	+2	Camryn Weston makes two point jump shot	12-14
12:48		Zakai Zeigler turnover (bad pass)
12:36		Tre Green misses three point jump shot
12:34		Felix Okpara defensive rebound
12:15		Tre Green personal foul (Zakai Zeigler draws the foul)
11:56		Chris Loofe shooting foul (Felix Okpara draws the foul)
11:56		TV timeout
11:56		Felix Okpara misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:56		Felix Okpara misses regular free throw 2 of 2
11:56		Igor Milicic Jr. offensive rebound
11:50	+3	Zakai Zeigler makes three point jump shot (Igor Milicic Jr. assists)	12-17
11:50		Tre Green shooting foul (Zakai Zeigler draws the foul)
11:50		Zakai Zeigler misses regular free throw 1 of 1
11:49		Blue Raiders defensive rebound
11:31	+2	Camryn Weston makes two point layup	14-17
11:12		Jordan Gainey misses three point jump shot
11:10		Felix Okpara offensive rebound
11:04		Essam Mostafa shooting foul (Felix Okpara draws the foul)
11:04	+1	Felix Okpara makes regular free throw 1 of 2	14-18
11:04	+1	Felix Okpara makes regular free throw 2 of 2	14-19
11:04		Blue Raiders 30 second timeout
10:50		Kamari Lands misses three point jump shot
10:48		Jahmai Mashack defensive rebound
10:33	+2	Igor Milicic Jr. makes two point layup	14-21
10:09		Camryn Weston turnover (lost ball) (Jahmai Mashack steals)
10:05		Jahmai Mashack turnover (bad pass) (Camryn Weston steals)
10:00		Chris Loofe offensive foul (Jahmai Mashack draws the foul)
10:00		Chris Loofe turnover (offensive foul)
9:48	+2	Zakai Zeigler makes two point layup	14-23
9:38		Camryn Weston misses three point jump shot
9:36		Chaz Lanier defensive rebound
9:31		Jestin Porter personal foul (Zakai Zeigler draws the foul)
9:31	+1	Zakai Zeigler makes regular free throw 1 of 2	14-24
9:31	+1	Zakai Zeigler makes regular free throw 2 of 2	14-25
9:11		Camryn Weston misses two point jump shot
9:09		Felix Okpara defensive rebound
9:06		Jahmai Mashack turnover (lost ball)
8:48		Felix Okpara personal foul (Jlynn Counter draws the foul)
8:36	+2	Kamari Lands makes two point jump shot	16-25
8:30		Chaz Lanier turnover (Kamari Lands steals)
8:25		Justin Bufford misses two point layup
8:23		Jordan Gainey defensive rebound
8:16		Jordan Gainey turnover (bad pass)
7:58		Jlynn Counter misses two point jump shot
7:56		Igor Milicic Jr. defensive rebound
7:38		Igor Milicic Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Camryn Weston steals)
7:32		Chaz Lanier shooting foul
7:32		TV timeout
7:32		Camryn Weston misses regular free throw 1 of 2
7:32	+1	Camryn Weston makes regular free throw 2 of 2	17-25
7:19		Chaz Lanier turnover (Essam Mostafa steals)
7:14	+2	Jlynn Counter makes two point layup	19-25
6:51	+3	Chaz Lanier makes three point jump shot (Zakai Zeigler assists)	19-28
6:32	+2	Camryn Weston makes two point jump shot	21-28
6:27		Jordan Gainey misses two point layup
6:25		Cade Phillips offensive rebound
6:25		Cade Phillips misses two point layup
6:24		Torey Alston defensive rebound
6:20	+3	Camryn Weston makes three point jump shot (Jlynn Counter assists)	24-28
6:00		Zakai Zeigler misses three point jump shot
5:58		Torey Alston defensive rebound
5:41	+2	Camryn Weston makes two point layup (Essam Mostafa assists)	26-28
5:13		Chaz Lanier misses two point jump shot
5:11		Camryn Weston defensive rebound
5:03		Jlynn Counter misses three point jump shot
5:01		Igor Milicic Jr. defensive rebound
4:52		Torey Alston personal foul (Zakai Zeigler draws the foul)
4:52	+1	Zakai Zeigler makes regular free throw 1 of 2	26-29
4:52	+1	Zakai Zeigler makes regular free throw 2 of 2	26-30
4:34	+3	Jestin Porter makes three point jump shot	29-30
4:15		Jordan Gainey misses two point jump shot
4:13		Torey Alston defensive rebound
3:54		Jestin Porter misses two point jump shot
3:52		Darlinstone Dubar defensive rebound
3:32		Zakai Zeigler misses three point jump shot
3:30		Essam Mostafa defensive rebound
3:06	+3	Jestin Porter makes three point jump shot (Jlynn Counter assists)	32-30
2:51		Jestin Porter blocks Jordan Gainey's two point layup
2:49		Volunteers offensive rebound
2:49		TV timeout
2:48	+2	Felix Okpara makes two point dunk (Zakai Zeigler assists)	32-32
2:17	+3	Tre Green makes three point jump shot	35-32
1:51		Chaz Lanier misses two point jump shot
1:49		Torey Alston defensive rebound
1:42		Chris Loofe misses three point jump shot
1:40		Darlinstone Dubar defensive rebound
1:26	+2	Felix Okpara makes two point dunk (Zakai Zeigler assists)	35-34
0:53		Jestin Porter misses three point jump shot
0:51		Torey Alston offensive rebound
0:49	+2	Torey Alston makes two point layup	37-34
0:33		Zakai Zeigler misses three point jump shot
0:31		Chris Loofe defensive rebound
0:12	+3	Camryn Weston makes three point jump shot	40-34
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
MTSU
Blue Raiders
24
TENN
Volunteers
48

Time		Play	Score
19:42		Chaz Lanier personal foul (Justin Bufford draws the foul)
19:30		Jahmai Mashack blocks Jestin Porter's three point jump shot
19:28		Jahmai Mashack defensive rebound
19:09	+2	Zakai Zeigler makes two point layup	40-36
18:54		Camryn Weston turnover (lost ball) (Chaz Lanier steals)
18:44		Chaz Lanier misses two point jump shot
18:42		Essam Mostafa defensive rebound
18:40		Essam Mostafa turnover (lost ball) (Jahmai Mashack steals)
18:32		Justin Bufford personal foul
18:28	+2	Chaz Lanier makes two point jump shot (Zakai Zeigler assists)	40-38
18:17		Kamari Lands misses three point jump shot
18:12		Blue Raiders offensive rebound
17:57	+2	Justin Bufford makes two point jump shot	42-38
17:57		Felix Okpara shooting foul (Justin Bufford draws the foul)
17:57	+1	Justin Bufford makes regular free throw 1 of 1	43-38
17:25	+2	Zakai Zeigler makes two point layup	43-40
17:12		Jlynn Counter misses three point jump shot
17:10		Igor Milicic Jr. defensive rebound
16:58		Camryn Weston personal foul (Zakai Zeigler draws the foul)
16:54	+2	Chaz Lanier makes two point layup (Zakai Zeigler assists)	43-42
16:43		Blue Raiders 30 second timeout
16:43		TV timeout
16:25		Camryn Weston misses two point jump shot
16:23		Igor Milicic Jr. defensive rebound
16:08		Chaz Lanier misses three point jump shot
16:06		Igor Milicic Jr. offensive rebound
16:02		Igor Milicic Jr. misses two point layup
16:02		Chris Loofe defensive rebound
16:02		Chris Loofe flagrant 1 (Jahmai Mashack draws the foul)
16:02		Chris Loofe turnover
16:02		Official timeout
16:02		TV timeout
16:02	+1	Jahmai Mashack makes flagrant free throw 1 of 2	43-43
16:02		Jahmai Mashack misses flagrant free throw 2 of 2
16:02		Volunteers offensive rebound
15:50		Essam Mostafa blocks Igor Milicic Jr.'s two point layup
15:48		Volunteers offensive rebound
15:47		Igor Milicic Jr. misses three point jump shot
15:45		Essam Mostafa defensive rebound
15:42	+2	Camryn Weston makes two point layup	45-43
15:42		Igor Milicic Jr. shooting foul (Camryn Weston draws the foul)
15:42	+1	Camryn Weston makes regular free throw 1 of 1	46-43
15:17	+3	Jordan Gainey makes three point jump shot (Cade Phillips assists)	46-46
14:47		Camryn Weston turnover (lost ball) (Cade Phillips steals)
14:24		Justin Bufford personal foul (Jordan Gainey draws the foul)
14:17		Jordan Gainey misses two point jump shot
14:15		Jestin Porter defensive rebound
13:58	+3	Camryn Weston makes three point jump shot	49-46
13:44		Camryn Weston personal foul
13:40		Jlynn Counter personal foul (Jordan Gainey draws the foul)
13:40		Tre Green personal foul (Jahmai Mashack draws the foul)
13:40	+1	Jahmai Mashack makes regular free throw 1 of 2	49-47
13:40	+1	Jahmai Mashack makes regular free throw 2 of 2	49-48
13:11	+2	Jlynn Counter makes two point jump shot	51-48
12:50	+2	Jordan Gainey makes two point layup	51-50
12:50		Official timeout
12:32		Jlynn Counter misses two point jump shot
12:30		Chaz Lanier defensive rebound
12:21		Essam Mostafa shooting foul (Chaz Lanier draws the foul)
12:21	+1	Chaz Lanier makes regular free throw 1 of 2	51-51
12:21	+1	Chaz Lanier makes regular free throw 2 of 2	51-52
12:03		Camryn Weston misses two point layup
12:01		Igor Milicic Jr. defensive rebound
11:56	+3	Chaz Lanier makes three point jump shot (Zakai Zeigler assists)	51-55
11:53		Blue Raiders 30 second timeout
11:53		TV timeout
11:43		Igor Milicic Jr. personal foul (Essam Mostafa draws the foul)
11:25		Jestin Porter misses three point jump shot
11:23		Igor Milicic Jr. defensive rebound
11:10	+2	Cade Phillips makes two point dunk (Zakai Zeigler assists)	51-57
11:01	+3	Kamari Lands makes three point jump shot (Camryn Weston assists)	54-57
10:45	+2	Cade Phillips makes two point dunk (Zakai Zeigler assists)	54-59
10:27		Cade Phillips personal foul (Essam Mostafa draws the foul)
10:19		Camryn Weston misses two point layup
10:17		Zakai Zeigler defensive rebound
10:04		Zakai Zeigler turnover (lost ball) (Camryn Weston steals)
9:59		Camryn Weston misses two point layup
9:57		Essam Mostafa offensive rebound
9:54	+2	Essam Mostafa makes two point layup	56-59
9:54		Official timeout
9:39		Igor Milicic Jr. offensive foul (Justin Bufford draws the foul)
9:39		Igor Milicic Jr. turnover (offensive foul)
9:23	+2	Essam Mostafa makes two point layup (Kamari Lands assists)	58-59
8:54		Jestin Porter personal foul (Zakai Zeigler draws the foul)
8:54	+1	Zakai Zeigler makes regular free throw 1 of 2	58-60
8:54	+1	Zakai Zeigler makes regular free throw 2 of 2	58-61
8:45		Jestin Porter misses three point jump shot
8:43		Chaz Lanier defensive rebound
8:29		Zakai Zeigler turnover (lost ball) (Jestin Porter steals)
8:26		Tre Green turnover (lost ball)
8:14		Chaz Lanier misses three point jump shot
8:12		Jestin Porter defensive rebound
7:55		Kamari Lands offensive foul (Zakai Zeigler draws the foul)
7:55		Kamari Lands turnover (offensive foul)
7:55		TV timeout
7:38		Essam Mostafa shooting foul (Felix Okpara draws the foul)
7:38	+1	Felix Okpara makes regular free throw 1 of 2	58-62
7:38	+1	Felix Okpara makes regular free throw 2 of 2	58-63
7:29		Jestin Porter turnover (lost ball) (Zakai Zeigler steals)
7:14		Camryn Weston personal foul (Zakai Zeigler draws the foul)
7:14	+1	Zakai Zeigler makes regular free throw 1 of 2	58-64
7:14	+1	Zakai Zeigler makes regular free throw 2 of 2	58-65
6:49		Jahmai Mashack personal foul (Jestin Porter draws the foul)
6:49		Jestin Porter misses regular free throw 1 of 2
6:49		Jestin Porter misses regular free throw 2 of 2
6:49		Blue Raiders offensive rebound
6:40		Torey Alston misses two point jump shot
6:38		Zakai Zeigler defensive rebound
6:29		Felix Okpara misses two point layup
6:27		Chris Loofe defensive rebound
6:09		Jestin Porter misses three point jump shot
6:07		Volunteers defensive rebound
5:59		Chaz Lanier misses three point jump shot
5:57		Chris Loofe defensive rebound
5:48		Jahmai Mashack shooting foul (Chris Loofe draws the foul)
5:48	+1	Chris Loofe makes regular free throw 1 of 2	59-65
5:48		Chris Loofe misses regular free throw 2 of 2
5:48		Igor Milicic Jr. defensive rebound
5:22		Zakai Zeigler turnover (lost ball) (Camryn Weston steals)
5:16		Jordan Gainey blocks Camryn Weston's two point layup
5:13		Jordan Gainey defensive rebound
4:47	+2	Chaz Lanier makes two point layup	59-67
4:28		Jestin Porter misses three point jump shot
4:26		Zakai Zeigler defensive rebound
4:20	+3	Jordan Gainey makes three point jump shot (Zakai Zeigler assists)	59-70
4:19		Blue Raiders 60 second timeout
4:19		TV timeout
3:58		Camryn Weston misses three point jump shot
3:56		Blue Raiders offensive rebound
3:56		Jahmai Mashack personal foul (Essam Mostafa draws the foul)
3:56	+1	Essam Mostafa makes regular free throw 1 of 2	60-70
3:56		Essam Mostafa misses regular free throw 2 of 2
3:56		Chaz Lanier defensive rebound
3:38	+3	Chaz Lanier makes three point jump shot	60-73
3:25	+3	Kamari Lands makes three point jump shot	63-73
3:02		Chaz Lanier misses three point jump shot
3:00		Jordan Gainey offensive rebound
2:41		Chaz Lanier misses two point jump shot
2:39		Jordan Gainey offensive rebound
2:36	+2	Jordan Gainey makes two point layup	63-75
2:25		Jordan Gainey blocks Jestin Porter's two point layup
2:23		Igor Milicic Jr. defensive rebound
2:07		Jordan Gainey misses two point jump shot
2:05		Jestin Porter defensive rebound
1:59		Jordan Gainey personal foul (Camryn Weston draws the foul)
1:59		Camryn Weston misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:59	+1	Camryn Weston makes regular free throw 2 of 2	64-75
1:38	+2	Igor Milicic Jr. makes two point dunk (Zakai Zeigler assists)	64-77
1:24		Jestin Porter misses three point jump shot
1:22		Zakai Zeigler defensive rebound
0:54		Zakai Zeigler misses three point jump shot
0:52		Torey Alston defensive rebound
0:48		Torey Alston turnover (Chaz Lanier steals)
0:46	+2	Igor Milicic Jr. makes two point layup (Chaz Lanier assists)	64-79
0:36		Camryn Weston misses three point jump shot
0:34		Volunteers defensive rebound
0:10	+3	Jahmai Mashack makes three point jump shot (Zakai Zeigler assists)	64-82
0:02		Kamari Lands misses three point jump shot
0:00		Blue Raiders offensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Blue Raiders offensive rebound