Schofield, Vols upset No. 1 Gonzaga
PHOENIX – Grant Williams stood in the bowels of Brooklyn’s Barclays Center little more than two weeks ago and confessed something alarming about Tennessee.
The Vols lacked composure in the final moments against No. 2 Kansas, leading to a difficult defeat after going toe-to-toe with a top-ranked blue blood foe.
They didn’t lack it Sunday in Phoenix – and that’s because of Admiral Schofield.
Schofield stepped coolly into an NBA 3-pointer with 1:23 to play, banking in a lead-giving lead for the Vols. He more coolly quieted his teammates as he walked back to the bench after the shot. Then he did it again. An NBA 3-pointer from the top of the key, breaking a 73-73 tie with 24 seconds left in regulation.
The Vols got the marquee win that eluded them in New York, knocking off No. 1 Gonzaga in a 76-73 win on the heels of Schofield's 25 second-half points.
Schofield led No. 7 UT (7-1) with 30 points in handing No. 1 Gonzaga (9-1) its first loss. Grant Williams had 16 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists before fouling out with 2:30 to play. Jordan Bowden scored 11.
Gonzaga rolled Tennessee early in the second half, making seven of its first 10 from the field. The Vols, meanwhile, were 3-of-14 in the same stretch.
Bowden got the Vols going with a 3pointer. Schofield sparked for a stretch, making a jumper and a 3-pointer to pull the Vols within one.
But the Bulldogs smacked back. Big man Brandon Clarke, who crushed the Vols early in the second half, made a free throw and grabbed his own miss on the second attempt. He spun and dunked it before a shooting contest between Zach Norvell and Schofield broke out.
The Gonzaga forward made three straight 3-pointers. Schofield fought to keep Tennessee in it with a layup and a long 3-pointer to cut the lead to three. But Norvell made his third straight to extend Gonzaga’s lead.
Bowden willed UT within three with back-to-back 3-pointers. Williams did the same with a floater before Schofield made his biggest shot yet – a wideopen wing 3-pointer to tie it 68-68.
He wasn’t done, scoring five straight after Williams fouled out to put UT up 73-71.
Tennessee opened fantastically, bursting out of the locker room after a week without a game.
Schofield made a straightaway 3pointer to set the Vols off. They quickly led 7-0, then Williams and Pons hit a pair of 3-pointers to help UT open a 19-11 lead less than seven minutes into the game.
UT made eight of its first 13 field goals, while giving Gonzaga fits with pressure defensively and dominating the rebounding battle. But the Bulldogs handled the next 10 minutes, going on a 22-8 run dominated by standout Rui Hachimura.
The Vols trailed 33-27 after a Corey Kispert 3-pointer, forcing a Barnes timeout. They gathered themselves, however, and held Gonzaga without a field goal for the final 3:22 of the half.
Bowden hit a jumper with three seconds left before the half to cap an impressive 7-0 run to lead 34-33.
Foul trouble bit the Vols in the first half. Kyle Alexander sat for the final eight-plus minutes with a pair. Schofield was down for the final five-plus after picking up his second and Pons also missed a stretch.
UT led by nine twice in the first half.
Up next
Tennessee heads to Memphis on Saturday to resume its series with the Tigers at noon ET (ESPN2).