Lanier Leads No. 6 Tennessee Past No. 14 Mississippi State with 23-Point Performance

Chaz Lanier put on a show, scoring 23 points to propel No. 6 Tennessee to a 68-56 victory over No. 14 Mississippi State on Tuesday night.

The Volunteers (17-2, 4-2 SEC) extended their home winning streak to 11 games this season, bouncing back in style from a nail-biting 76-75 loss to in-state rival Vanderbilt, which resulted in a hefty $250,000 fine for an overzealous court-storming celebration. Jahmai Mashack and Jordan Gainey chipped in with 10 points each, while Felix Okpara dominated the boards with 12 rebounds and added nine points.

The Bulldogs (15-4, 3-3 SEC) have hit a rough patch, dropping three of their last four contests—all against ranked opponents. Josh Hubbard led the charge for Mississippi State with 14 points, followed by Riley Kugel with 12 and RJ Melendez with 10.

Lanier set the tone early, racking up 14 points before halftime to help Tennessee build a commanding 34-16 lead. Mississippi State struggled mightily in the first half, shooting a dismal 22.2% (6 of 27) from the field.

Turning Point

With Tennessee’s lead cut to just seven midway through the second half, the Volunteers needed a spark. Okpara, known more for his presence in the paint, shocked everyone by nailing a desperation three-pointer as the shot clock expired—his first attempt from beyond the arc this season. The unexpected shot energized Tennessee and helped them regain control of the game.

Stat Breakdown

Mississippi State endured a brutal start, connecting on just one of its first 13 attempts, allowing Tennessee to jump out to a commanding 15-4 advantage.

Player Spotlight

Riley Kugel has been a consistent force off the bench for Mississippi State, playing a key role in their recent tough matchups, including a standout 21-point outing in Saturday’s win over then-No. 21 Ole Miss.

On the Tennessee side, Zakai Zeigler’s journey from an overlooked recruit to a senior leader has been remarkable. He now boasts over 600 assists and 200 steals in his career, embodying the grit and determination of the Volunteers’ program.

What’s Next

Mississippi State will return to action on Saturday, hosting South Carolina, aiming to regain momentum.

Meanwhile, Tennessee gears up for a showdown against top-ranked Auburn in what promises to be an exciting SEC clash.