Vols Fall in Season Opener to VCU

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Tennessee opened the 2014-15 season with an 85-69 defeat at the hands of #15 VCU in the Veterans Classic at the U.S. Naval Academy. The game marked the regular-season debut for Donnie Tyndall as the Vols’ head coach.

Down by as many as 20, Tennessee cut their deficit to eight points on several occasions late in the second half, but couldn’t get any closer.

Senior preseason All-SEC guard Josh Richardson had 17 points and six rebounds before fouling out. Freshman Detrick Mostella also scored 17 points on some athletic moves and three 3-pointers.

Junior Kevin Punter, in his first game with the Vols added eight points, grabbed five rebounds and handed out seven assists.Armani Moore also had eight points and snagged seven rebounds.

VCU was led by Melvin Johnson, who scored a game-high 23 points. Trevon Graham had a huge night with 15 and 14 rebounds. Terry Larrier chipped in with 11 and Jordan Burgess had 10 as four Rams scored in double-figures.

The game featured a combined total of 73 free throws attempted as Tennessee shot 17-of-33 from the line and VCU was 24-of-40. A total of 62 fouls were called in the game.

Tennessee scraped back from a 20-point deficit early in the second half to get within nine points on a pair of free throws by Richardson with 9:26 left in the second half, 62-53.

VCU responded with the next five points to regain a 14-point lead. But the Vols kept pushing as Tennessee scored six in a row to cut the margin to eight, 67-59 with 7:38 left in the game.

A 3-pointer by Johnson, his first points of the second half, were the final dagger with 1:54 left, putting the Rams up 80-66.

VCU led 48-30 at halftime as Johnson tallied 20 points, making 8-of-10 from the floor. The Rams made 7-of-15 3-pointers in the first half.

With the game tied at 14 following a pair of Punter free throws, VCU ripped off eight points in a row to start a 12-1 run. Graham’s free throws with with 10:25 remaining in the first half gave the Rams a 26-15 lead.