University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
7-6, 0-1
Auburn
7-5, 1-0
Vols Fall to Auburn in SEC Hoops Opener
January 02, 2016 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 2, 2016
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AUBURN, Ala. -- Tennessee rallied from double-digit deficit in the first half but could not come back in the second in a 83-77 loss at Auburn to open SEC play on Saturday at Auburn Arena.
Senior Kevin Punter Jr. matched his career high with 31 points to lead Tennessee (7-6, 0-1 SEC), marking the 10th time in 13 games that he has scored at least 20 points. Freshman Admiral Schofield scored a career-high 22 points in his SEC debut.
Auburn (7-5, 1-0) was led by Kareem Canty and Bryce Brown, who each scored 20 points.
Tennessee begins its home SEC schedule on Wednesday against Florida at 7 p.m. at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The Vols trailed by as many as 12 points early when Canty drained a 3-pointer to put Auburn ahead 22-10. Tennessee responded by scoring 11 unanswered points, cutting the lead to a point at 22-21 with a jumper by Punter with 6:36 left in the half.
Admiral Schofield put Tennessee ahead by halftime with 3-pointer to ease the Vols ahead 36-34.
Only four Vols scored in the first half, but it was enough to secure the halftime lead. Punter accounted for half the Vols' points in the first half, scoring 18 points. Schofield added 11 points and five rebounds.
Auburn retook the lead in the first position of the second half. Brown hit a 3-pointer to put the Tigers ahead 37-36, and Auburn led the rest of the game, stretching its lead to as many as 11 points.
Tennessee made just 3 of 28 shots (10.7 percent) from the 3-point arc. Auburn made 12 of 26 3-pointers (46.2 percent).
