A remarkable non-conference run for the Southeastern Conference continued Tuesday night.
Top-ranked Tennessee trounced Miami, 75-62, and Arkansas won a thriller over No. 15 Michigan to clinch a perfect Jimmy V Classic in Madison Square Garden for the SEC.
The Volunteers smothered Miami, holding the Hurricanes to 39 percent shooting and just 8-of-33 from beyond the arc. A 14-0 run midway through the first half put Tennessee ahead for good. Chaz Lanier paced Tennessee with 22 points, and Igor Milicic Jr added 16 points and nine rebounds. Tennessee moved to a perfect 9-0 on the season with a trip to Illinois on deck Saturday.
Arkansas survived a, 89-87, battle with Michigan that at one point saw the Razorbacks take an 18-point lead. Michigan ripped off a 16-2 run in the second half to draw close but could not complete the comeback. Despite not making a field goal in the game’s final 3:01, Arkansas (8-2) did enough to score its biggest win of the non-conference slate.
The SEC has posted an astounding 128-19 non-conference record. Only five of the league’s 16 teams have suffered multiple defeats.
Five SEC teams are currently ranked in the AP Top 10, and four more made this week’s Top 25.
