University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
6-4
Mercer
6-6
Baulkman, Defense Lead Vols To 64-54 Win
December 22, 2014 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 22, 2014
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- In a rematch of last season's NCAA Tournament meeting, Tennessee once again came out on top against Mercer. This time the Vols rode their stout defense and sharp-shooting from newcomer Devon Baulkman to the victory.
On Monday night, the Vols beat the Bears, 64-54, at Thompson-Boling Arena, as Tennessee moved to 5-0 at home.
Tennessee won its second game in a row to improve to 6-4 overall. Mercer fell to 6-6.
Junior Devon Baulkman had his best game as a Vol with 22 points, making 4-of-6 from 3-point range. He also corralled six rebounds and had two steals and a key block in the second half.
Monday's game featured the same programs as last March's NCAA Tournament matchup, but only one player who started in that game, played in this season's contest: Tennessee's Josh Richardson. The senior guard tallied 11 points, handed out six assists and had three steals on Monday. He scored a career-best 26 points in the NCAA meeting.
Mercer was led by Ike Nwamu, who tallied a game-high and career-high 30 points including 6-of-11 from 3-point range and 9-of-18 from the floor.
The Bears hung in the game thanks to potent shooting from beyond the arc by Nwamu. Aside from the junior, the 12 other Bears to play combined for 24 points and were 6-of-28 from the floor (21.4 percent). Overall, Mercer shot 32.6 percent in the game.
Tennessee took control of the game with a 19-2 run to end the first half as Mercer missed its final 10 field goal attempts of the first half as the Vols led 27-15 at intermission.
The Vols forced Mercer into six turnovers over the final seven minutes of the half and the Bears didn't make a field goal for the final 9:48 of the half. Mercer shot 18.2 percent in the first half (4-of-22), including 1-of-10 in 2-point field goals.
In limiting Mercer to 15 first-half points, the Vols had their best defensive half since leading Presbyterian, 43-13, on Dec. 18, 2012.
Down by 14 early in the second half, Mercer charged back in the half thanks to strong 3-point field goal shooting of Nwamu. His sixth trey of the game brought the Bears within five at 43-38 with 10 minutes left in the game. The game got as close as four in the second half.
But, Baulkman took over on both ends of the floor to regain a double-figure lead for the Vols at 49-39 with seven minutes left. He knocked down a 3-pointer, then stole the ball and finished off the play with a layup. Another Baulkman layup with 5:33 left pushed the lead to 51-40.
Tennessee led by double-figures for the rest of the way.
In holding Mercer to 54 points, it was the Vols best defensive effort of the season under new head coach Donnie Tyndall. Tennessee is 5-0 when holding foes to less than 60 points.
Last season, the Vols defeated Mercer, 83-63, in the NCAA Tournament's Third Round to advance to the Sweet 16 after the Bears had upset Duke. Two seasons ago, Mercer ended Tennessee's season, beating the Vols, 75-67, in the NIT opening round on March 20, 2013 in Knoxville.
The Vols continue their four-game holiday Ho-Ho-Homestand on Saturday night as Tennessee State comes to Knoxville. That game airs on the SEC Network and Vol Network with a tip at 8:30 p.m.
