Postgame Notes: Vols 70, Texas Southern 58

Nov. 20, 2014

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HOME OPENERS

The Vols have won 23 straight home-openers and are 25-2 in home-openers at Thompson- Boling Arena, which opened Dec. 3, 1987.

Donnie Tyndall was 2-0 in home-openers during his two seasons at Southern Miss.

FOR STARTERS

Starting Lineup: guard Josh Richardson, guard Kevin Punter, guard Armani Moore, forward Jabari McGhee, forward Willie Carmichael III

It was the first career start for freshmen McGhee and Carmichael. They did not start either of the exhibition games as well as the opener vs. VCU.

With McGhee and Carmichael getting the starting nods, it was the first time the Vols started multiple true freshmen since Richardson and Jarnell Stokes were in the starting five on Feb. 4, 2012 vs. Georgia, winning 73-62. Richardson and Stokes started five games together that season.

Richardson, Punter and Moore all started against VCU.

First in: Derek Reese

Richardson scored the first five points of the game for the Vols

DOUBLE DIGITS

Four Vols finished with at least 10 points

Richardson again led the Vols in scoring, finishing with 19 points. He was 7-of-14 from the floor, 3-of-5 from 3-point range and 2-of-2 from the free throw line

Punter had a career-best 13 points in his second game as a Vol.

Carmichael had a career-best 10 points in his second game and first start. It was the first points of his career.

Moore finished with 11 points, also a career best

HALFTIME NOTES

Richardson led the Vols with 11 points in the first half, thanks to going 3-for-3 from 3-point range.

The Vols were helped out by the 3-point shooting, going 5-for-10 from behind the arc in the first half. In total, the team was 11-for-32 (34.4 percent) from the floor.

Richardson also led the Vols with 5 rebounds

Chris Thomas led Texas Southern with 11 points

Richardson hit a 3-pointer to give the Vols a 30-27 lead with 26 seconds left, but David Blanks drained a 3-pointer from the baseline to tie the game 30-30 at halftime.

WITH THE WIN...

UT has a 23-game win streak in home-openers.

Tennessee is now 4-0 all-time against current members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

It was Donnie Tyndall's first victory as Tennessee's head coach.

UT avoided its first 0-2 start since 1965-66, when coach Ray Mears' Vols fell to Michigan (on the road) and Vanderbilt to begin the year.

NEXT UP

During the week of Thanksgiving, Tennessee takes part in the eight-team Orlando Classic at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World.

The tournament field also includes Georgia Tech, Kansas, Marquette, Michigan State, Rhode Is- land, Rider and Santa Clara.

University of Tennessee Athletics

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