Postgame Notes: Vols 65, K-State 64

Dec. 6, 2014

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FOR STARTERS

Tennessee's starters: point guard Josh Richardson, guard Kevin Punter, forward Armani Moore, forward Willie Carmichael, forward Tariq Owens.
It is the fifth different starting lineup for the Vols in six games this season
It is the first career start for Owens, the 6-10 freshman from Odenton, Md. His career high for minutes entering today was nine against Kansas (11/28/14). He did not play against Marquette in the Orlando Classic finale (11:30/14).
The Vols have started three true freshmen this season: Owens, Carmichael and McGhee.
First basket: Carmichael made two free throws at 16:41. After a Vol steal, Armani Moore made the first field goal with a drive to the basket at 16:17.
First sub in: Jabari McGhee (17:04)

WITH THE WIN...

The Vols have a .500 record.
Tennessee is 11-16 all-time against current members of the Big 12 Conference.
Donnie Tyndall earned his first head coaching win over a Big 12 Conference opponent (0-3).

DEFENSIVE SEASON BESTS

Tennessee forced Kansas State to commit 22 turnovers. It was the third time this season that the Vols have forced at least 15 turnovers (VCU - 18, 11/14/14; Kansas - 16, 11/28/14).
The 22 turnovers were the most turnovers by a Vols' opponent since NC A&T had 34 on Dec. 23, 2009.
The Vols had a season-high nine blocks. Armani Moore finished with five, a new career best.
In the first four minutes of the game, the Vols blocked four Kansas State shots. Three of them came from Moore.
The Vols also had a season-high 12 steals, led by Kevin Punter's four, the most by a Vol in a game all season.
The 12 steals are the most for the Vols in a game since 15 vs. Vanderbilt on Feb. 22, 2011.
Kansas State missed its first eight 3-pointers before Marcus Foster made the Wildcats' first with 18:17 in the second half. Foster eventually made seven 3-pointers in the second half (7 of 14).

BACK IN DOUBLE DIGITS

After being held to less than 10 points for the first time all season last game against Marquette, Josh Richardson led the Vols with 17 points.
Richardson has led the Vols in scoring in five games this season.
He was the only Vol to finish with more than 10 points. Willie Carmichael III had nine points and a team-best six rebounds.

BIG 12 WINS SEC/BIG 12 CHALLENGE

The Tennessee and Kansas State matchup was the final game in the SEC Big 12 Challenge. Despite the Vols' win, the Big 12 won the challenge 6-4.
This is the second year of the annual contest, presented by ESPN and Sonic. The Big 12 won last year's challenge 7-3. Tennessee did not participate.

GOOD TO BE HOME IN DECEMBER

Tennessee has won 11 of its last 12 December home games, dating to Dec. 20, 2011.
The lone loss during that span came last season when the Vols suffered a 65-58 setback to NC State (Dec. 18, 2013).

FIRST HALF NOTES

The Vols led 25-17 at halftime, the first time in the Donnie Tyndall era that the Vols have led at halftime.
The 17 points by Kansas State is the fewest points allowed by the Vols in a half this season. The previous best was limiting Santa Clara to 27 points in the second half (11/27/14). The fewest first half points was 30 against Texas Southern and Santa Clara.
It was the fewest points allowed in the first half by the Vols since leading Presbyterian, 43-13 on Dec. 18, 2012
Down 10-6, the Vols went on an 8-0 run to take a 14-10 lead with 8:11 left in the first half. Tennessee led the rest of the half.
During the run, Tennessee hit back-to-back 3-pointers, courtesy of Richardson and Robert Hubbs III.
Richardson led all players with eight points in the first half. Carmichael had five rebounds.

ANOTHER DEFENSIVE STAND

Kansas State went 11:27 without a field goal during the first half.
Justin Edwards hit a layup at 15:06 and the Wildcats did not make a basket again until Jevon Thomas made a layup with 3:39 left in the half. They missed six field goals during that stretch but made six free throws during that time.
It is the second long stretch this season that the Vols have kept their opponents' offense under wraps for more than 10 minutes. Santa Clara (11/27/14) went 10:04 without scoring a point.

FINALS SEASON

Tennessee's Fall Semester exams run Dec. 4-11. After today, UT doesn't play until Dec. 14 against Butler (2 p.m. on ESPNU).

UP NEXT: BUTLER

The Vols host Butler next Sunday, Dec. 14, at Thompson-Boling Arena at 2 p.m. ET (ESPNU).
Butler is off to a 5-1 start this season under the di- rection of interim head coach Chris Holtmann. The Bulldogs finished third at the Battle 4 Atlantis tour- nament, with wins over North Carolina and Georgetown.
Tennessee trails its all-time series with Butler 2-1, dating to 1958. The Vols won the most recent meet- ing 76-71, in overtime, in the second round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament in Birmingham, Ala.
Tennessee and Butler are two of only 13 programs in the nation to make at least four NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearances in the last eight seasons. The Bulldogs made consecutive national championship game appearances in 2010 and 2011, falling to Duke and UConn, respectively.
To complete this two-game, home-and-home con- tract, UT will play at Butler's historic Hinkle Field- house on Dec. 12, 2015, in Indianapolis, Ind.

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