KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl had billed his team’s game against Wyoming as having the potential to be the most exciting matchup of the season at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The running offenses and pressing defenses of both teams provided that excitement in the first half, but it was No. 9 Tennessee that ran away in the second half for a 77-58 victory Tuesday night.
“We wore them out,” Pearl said. “We played that (up) tempo, and both teams went into the locker room, and then one team came out of that locker room and still had what it took to play in the second half. That was impressive to me.”
The Vols (8-1) struggled to slow down the usually high- scoring Cowboys (5-5) in the first half, but Tennessee’s defensive pressure and fast- break offense wore Wyoming down in the second.
Leading by one point at halftime, the Vols ran out to a 57-49 lead with 14:45 to go on a steal and layup by Scotty Hopson, who led Tennessee with 14 points. The sophomore also punctuated Tennessee’s second-half surge with several fast-break dunks.
Tennessee forced 29 turnovers, a lot of those coming from the Vols taking charge and charges inside.
Melvin Goins put Tennessee up by double figures for the first time with a 3-pointer that made it 64-53, and the Vols cruised from there.
“For about 30 minutes, we went toe-to-toe with maybe one of the best teams in the country,” Wyoming coach Heath Schroyer said. “We just kind of ran out of gas there for a stretch, and they’re really good in this building.”
WYOMING (5-5)
Muojeke 4-15 5-5 15, Thiam 2-5 4-4 8, Waddell 3-6 2-2 8, Luster 0-0 1-2 1, Davis 2-5 5-6 9, Jackson 2-3 0-2 4, Dermody 2-5 0-0 6, Watsabaugh 0-0 1-2 1, Sylla 2-4 0-0 4, Harrison 0-2 2-2 2. Totals 17-45 20-25 58.
TENNESSEE (8-1)
Smith 3-4 4-8 10, Chism 5-10 2-2 13, Maze 2-5 4-5 9, Tatum 3-9 0-0 7, Hopson 7-12 0-0 14, Woolridge 1-3 0-0 2, McBee 0-3 2-2 2, Goins 3-3 0-1 7, Prince 2-5 0-0 4, Williams 4-9 1-1 9. Totals 30-63 13-19 77.
Halftime — Tennessee 42-41. 3-point goals — Wyoming 4-21 (Dermody 2-5, Muojeke 2-11, Harrison 0-1, Jackson 0-1, Thiam 0-1, Davis 0-2), Tennessee 4-20 (Goins 1-1, Tatum 1-3, Maze 1-3, Chism 1-4, Prince 0-1, Woolridge 0-2, McBee 0-3, Hopson 0-3). Fouled out — None. Rebounds — Wyoming 36 (Davis, Muojeke 7), Tennessee 31 (Williams 7). Assists — Wyoming 9 (Luster 3), Tennessee 18 (Prince, Smith 6). Total fouls — Wyoming 20, Tennessee 21. A — 17,274.
