Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Vols win record 19th consecutive game
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Admiral Schofield had 21 points and 10 rebounds as No. 1 Tennessee defeated South Carolina 85-73 on Wednesday for its school-record 19th consecutive victory.
Tennessee owns the longest active winning streak of any active Division I team and is 11-0 in SEC competition for the first time in school history.
The Volunteers (23-1, 11-0 SEC) also earned their 23rd consecutive home victory. Tennessee’s last home loss was a 94-84 setback against Auburn on Jan. 2, 2018.
South Carolina (12-12, 7-4) made a season-high 14 threepoint baskets and shot 60.9 percent from beyond the arc but couldn’t slow Tennessee’s high-powered offense. Tennessee was 9 of 20 on threepoint attempts.
Tennessee’s superior accuracy from shorter range made the difference. Tennessee was 25 of 49, while South Carolina was just 12 of 40 on two-pointers.
Jordan Bowden scored 16 points for Tennessee. Kyle Alexander, Jordan Bone and Lamonte’ Turner added 10 points each. Grant Williams had 8 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists with only 1 turnover.
Tre Campbell had 19 points for South Carolina. Carlos Silva provided 17 points and 15 rebounds, while Hassani Gravett added 15 points.
Tennessee took command by going on a 26-6 run that turned a 15-12 deficit into a 3821 advantage. The score was tied 15-15 when Jalen Johnson hit a three-pointer while getting fouled to start a fourpoint play that put Tennessee ahead for good.
Tennessee reeled off 14 consecutive points later in that 26-6 stretch. The 14-0 spurt featured two dunks by Alexander and a three-pointer from Bowden and Schofield.
The Vols are about to enter the toughest stretch of their schedule. Three of their next four games are away from home, including road dates with No. 5 Kentucky and No. 19 LSU each of the next two Saturdays. Tennessee hasn’t faced a ranked team since a Dec. 9 victory over No. 3 Gonzaga, which was ranked No. 1 at the time.
NO. 13 VILLANOVA 85, PROVIDENCE 67
VILLANOVA, Pa. — Eric Paschall scored 20 of his 25 points in the second half and No. 13 Villanova rebounded from its first Big East loss by running away from Providence.
Fellow senior Phil Booth added 22 for the Wildcats (20-5, 11-1), who were fresh off a one-point loss to No. 10 Marquette after getting off to a program best 10-0 start in league play.
Nate Watson led Providence (14-11, 4-8) with 18 points. The Friars have lost four of their last five but were coming off an impressive 14-point road victory at St. John’s on Saturday.
After two consecutive three-pointers from Paschall put Villanova ahead 5345 early in the second half, Providence scored the next 10 points, culminating with a steal and acrobatic reverse layup from Maliek White, to take a 55-53 lead with 10:29 remaining.
But Paschall delivered two more big threes — right in front of the Villanova bench — to help the Wildcats close the game on a 23-6 run. Underclassmen Saddiq Bey and Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree helped seal the victory with a three-pointer and three-point play during the decisive spurt.
NO. 17 FLORIDA STATE 88, WAKE FOREST 66
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Senior Christ Koumadje recorded his first career double-double, with 20 points and 12 rebounds, to help No. 17 Florida State beat Wake Forest.
Koumadje, a 7-foot-4 center who is playing in his 109th career game, made 10 of 12 shots from the floor and set a career high in rebounds as the Seminoles won their sixth consecutive game.
Phil Cofer scored 13 points and Mfiondu Kabengele had 9 points and 7 rebounds for Florida State (19-5, 7-4 ACC), which enjoyed its most lopsided victory against an ACC team in 11 games.
Cofer and P.J. Savoy each made 3 three-pointers as the Seminoles shot 38.5 percent (10 for 26) from beyond the arc.
Chaundee Brown scored 20 points on 7 of 12 shooting and Brandon Childress had 11 points for Wake Forest (9-14, 2-9). The Demon Deacons are just 1-6 against ranked teams this season.