Vols vs. Bruins: A Battle for Sweet 16 Bragging Rights

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The No. 2 seed Tennessee Volunteers (27-8) are set to face the No. 10 seed UCLA Bruins (23-10) in a crucial NCAA Tournament matchup, scheduled for 9:40 p.m. ET on Saturday at Rupp Arena. This showdown will determine who advances to the Sweet 16.

Tennessee secured its place in the round of 32 by defeating the No. 15 seed Wofford 77-62 on Thursday. Meanwhile, UCLA delivered a commanding performance against No. 10 Utah State, winning 72-47.

This game presents an opportunity for Tennessee to make its third consecutive appearance in the Sweet 16 under the leadership of head coach Rick Barnes. The Volunteers reached the Elite Eight last season and also made it to the Sweet 16 in 2019.

In Tennessee’s recent victory, Chaz Lanier excelled in his first NCAA Tournament game, scoring 29 points, which marks the third-highest total in NCAA Tournament history for the Volunteers. He hit six 3-pointers, tying the record for most in a single NCAA Tournament game for Tennessee, previously held by Dalton Knecht, Santiago Vescovi, and Chris Lofton.

Zakai Zeigler contributed significantly with 12 points and a game-high 12 assists, breaking Johnny Darden’s career assists record with his second assist against Wofford. Jahmai Mashack also had a solid performance, recording nine points and seven rebounds.

On the other side, UCLA’s strong defense played a pivotal role in their victory over Utah State. The Bruins held the Aggies to just 4-for-31 shooting from beyond the arc while converting 10 of their own 3-point attempts. Skyy Clark and Eric Dailey Jr. each scored 14 points, and Kobe Johnson added eight points along with eight rebounds.

As both teams prepare for this intense matchup, the stakes are high, and fans eagerly anticipate what promises to be an electrifying contest.

For more updates on University of Tennessee athletics, email Michael Wilson at [email protected] and follow him on X @ or Bluesky.