Fast Break: Vols beat Michigan State in exhibition play
East Lansing, Mich. — The 9th ranked Tennessee basketball team opened the 2023-2024 season by knocking off 4th ranked Michigan State 89-88.
The Vols led from start to finish, but it was a roller coaster for 40 minutes as Tennessee fought off run after run from Michigan State.
Jonas Aidoo sealed the win by stealing a long inbound at midcourt with 1.9 seconds left, after the Jordan Gainey free throw.
The story of the game, that doesn’t count in the win column but was certainly a statement was the play of the transfers Gainey and Dalton Knecht. Knecht had a game-high 28 and Gainey scored 20 as the two transfers starred in their debuts. Josiah-Jordan James scored eight, Tobe Awaka had eight and Aidoo added nine points and eight rebounds.
Tennessee was playing without their veteran backcourt as Santiago Vescovi and Zakai Zeigler did not play. Vescovi is home with his ailing grandmother and Zeigler was held out of the game.
Zeigler is going through everything in practice but head coach Rick Barnes held him out as he recovers from the torn ACL he suffered last February. Their absence makes Tennessee’s “win” that much more impressive as the Vols managed a hostile crowd and the physicality of Michigan State.
The Vols have a quick turnaround after the debut win, hosting Lenoir-Rhyne in another exhibition game on Tuesday (6:30 p.m. Eastern Time, SEC Network+) at Thompson-Boling Arena.
