Knoxville, TN – Behind a career-high 26 points from Jordan Bowden, Tennessee extended its nation-leading home win streak to 28 games with a 82-63 win over Murray State on Tuesday night at Thompson-Boling Arena.
In addition to his career-best mark in points, Bowden hit a career-high six three-pointers, finishing 6-for-8 from beyond the arc. For the second consecutive game, Yves Pons set a new career-best in points with 19.
Senior guard Lamonte Turner dished out a career-high 13 assists, the most by a Vol in a single game since 1994 (LaMarcus Golden). John Fulkerson for the second straight game narrowly missed out on a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.
Tennessee (2-0) trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half and faced a nine-point deficit heading into halftime. After the Vols and Racers battled evenly to start the second half, the Tennessee offense came alive with an 18-5 run capped off by a Fulkerson three-point play that put the Vols ahead 64-58.
Fulkerson’s three-point play was preceded by a three-pointer from Bowden, which gave Tennessee its first lead since the 18:53 mark of the first half.
Tennessee went on to close the game on a 16-0 run, holding Murray State (1-1) scoreless over the final 7:21.
In the opening frame, Murray State led for more than 18 minutes and took a 44-35 lead into the break. The Racers hit eight of their first 14 three-point attempts on their way to a 54 percent shooting mark through the game’s first 20 minutes.
Pons led all scorers in the opening frame with 13 points.
Defending Home Court
Tuesday’s win over Murray State was Tennessee’s nation-leading 28th consecutive home win, which ties the third-longest home win streak in program history. Dating back to last season, the Vols have won nine straight games at home by double digits.
Pons Off To Quick Start
Yves Pons has posted back-to-back double-digit scoring games after averaging just 1.6 points per game entering the season.
Pons also had made only nine career three-pointers entering the 2019-20 season, but has made four in the season’s first two games. His three threes against Murray State are his most in a single game. Pons also set a career-high in blocks against the Racers with four.
Up Next For UT Men’s Basketball
Tennessee Vols basketball travels north of the border to Toronto for the James Naismith Classic, where it is set to face Washington on Saturday at 4:00pm CT. The game will air on ESPN+.
