Vols Get Defensive in 64-54 Win Over Mercer
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Devon Baulkman scored a career-high 22 points off the bench Monday as Tennessee held Mercer without a basket for an 11-minute stretch in the Volunteers’ 64-54 victory.
After trailing 13-8 with 9:49 left until halftime, Tennessee (6-4) ended the first half on a 19-2 run and also scored the first basket of the second half.
Mercer (6-6) cut the lead to four later in the second half, but Baulkman scored seven points in a 10-1 run that sealed the victory. Baulkman, a junior-college transfer, hadn’t scored more than 10 points in a game all season before Monday.
Ike Nwamu scored a career-high 30 points and shot 6 of 11 from 3-point range for Mercer.
This early-season matchup pitted two teams who faced each other in the last two postseasons. Tennessee beat Mercer 83-63 in last year’s NCAA tournament after losing to the Bears 75-67 in the 2013 NIT.
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