UT ends Duke’s 10-game win streak, advances to Sweet 16

ORLANDO, FLA. – A career-high-tying 27 points from Olivier Nkamhoua and a suffocating defensive performance led fourth seed Tennessee on Saturday, as the Vols clinched the ninth Sweet Sixteen appearance in program history with a 65-52 win over No. 5 seed Duke.

With the win, Tennessee (25-10) advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2019. The Vols will face either Florida Atlantic or Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. Tip time has not been announced.

Nkamhoua’s 27 points-23 of which came in the second half tied his career-high on January 28 against Texas and came on 10-of-13 shooting from the field, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range. From the 8:43 mark to the 4:16 mark of the second half, Nkamhoua scored 13 straight points for the Vols. In all, he scored 17 of Tennessee’s final 19 points.

Santiago Vescovi was Tennessee’s second leading scorer, scoring 14 points with four 3-pointers while also dishing out five assists and five rebounds.

Jonas Aidoo also made an impact with eight points, five rebounds and three blocks.

Tennessee’s smothering defensive performance is evident on the scoreboard, as Duke’s 52 points were not only a season-low for the Blue Devils, but tied for the least in the NCAA Tournament game in the program’s storied history. The Vols forced Duke into 15 turnovers.

After holding a six-point lead in the first half, Tennessee extended its lead to nine points early in the second half thanks to a pair of 3-pointers from Josiah-Jordan James and Nkamhoua, but Duke quickly fought back against the Vols. ‘ lead down to just two points with 15:40 left after a quick 7-0 run.

For the first time in the second half, the Vols responded with their own quickness to keep the distance from the Blue Devils—outscoring Duke 11-4 in the next four minutes of the game to pull back in front by nine with 11:54 remaining, 44-35.

Immediately after Tennessee’s run, Duke responded with a run of his own-cutting Tennessee’s lead back down to just four with 9:10 to go, 46-42.

Then entered Nkamhoua, who during Tennessee’s 13-6 run scored all 13 of the Vols’ points to put Tennessee in control for a good-up of 11 with 4:16 to go.

With the win all but guaranteed with just over a minute to play, Nkamhoua put an exclamation point on his performance and beat Tennessee with a putback slam with 1:15 to go.

Tennessee’s defensive intensity also set the tone for the entire first half, as the Vols took a 27-21 lead into halftime. Duke’s 21 first-half points are tied for the fewest in a half this season.

After seven minutes, Duke went on a 9-0 run to pull within six at 19-13 with 8:05 left in the first half.

But Tennessee responded to its largest deficit of the half by closing out the opening period with a 14-2 run in the final 7:49. Of the Vols’ 14 points during the spurt, 11 came from the duo of Vescovi and Aidoo, who each had eight points in the first half.

UP NEXT:

Tennessee advances to the Sweet Sixteen and will face either Florida Atlantic or Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Tip time has not been announced.

SWEET SIXTEEN VOLS:

Saturday’s win gives Tennessee its ninth Sweet Sixteen appearance in program history and first since 2019. The Vols have previously competed in the Round of 16 in 1967, 1981, 2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014 and 2019.

TENNESSEE CLASSIC UNIFORMS REMAIN UNDEFEATED:

For the sixth time this season, the Vols donned the “Tennessee Classic” uniforms and improved to 6-0 while doing so. The Big Orange also wore a Tennessee Classic uniform in wins over No. 10 Texas, No. 1 Alabama, Arkansas, in the SEC Tournament against Ole Miss and in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Louisiana.