The No. 9 Tennessee Volunteers improved to 3-0 on the season following an 83-78 win over Tennessee State on Friday at the Food City Center, according to Yahoo Sports.
Tennessee held a 42-37 lead at halftime before ultimately securing the victory.
Terrence Hill Jr. led the Volunteers in scoring with 19 points, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
Hill Jr. made 5-of-11 field goal attempts, 4-of-8 three-point attempts, and 5-of-7 free throw attempts.
In addition to his scoring, Hill Jr. contributed five rebounds, five assists, and one steal.
Juke Harris paced the Volunteers on the glass, recording a team-high 10 rebounds.
Despite the loss, Tennessee State outrebounded the Volunteers 45-43 and held a 30-24 advantage in points in the paint.
Tennessee struggled with ball security throughout the contest, committing 17 turnovers.
The game was officiated by Owen Shortt, Bharat Ramnanan, and Chris Ford.
Tennessee maintains an unblemished 8-0 all-time record against Tennessee State in basketball, a series that dates back to Nov. 23, 1990.
Looking ahead, the Volunteers are scheduled to face No. 5 Michigan State on Nov. 17.
Tipoff for that matchup is set for 9 p.m. EST at the Food City Center and will be broadcast on ESPN2.
The Volunteers continue their early-season schedule as they prepare for the upcoming test against the Spartans.
Head coach Rick Barnes will look to address the team’s high turnover count before the next outing.
The victory keeps Tennessee undefeated as they head into a significant non-conference game against a top-five opponent.
Tennessee State falls to 2-2 on the season following the narrow loss in the in-state matchup.
The game highlighted both the offensive efficiency of Hill Jr. and the rebounding challenges faced by the Tennessee frontcourt.
Both teams will now shift their focus toward future conference and non-conference opponents on their respective schedules.