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Tobe Awaka and Dalton Knecht help Tennessee basketball avoid an upset at Missouri
Dalton Knecht immediately faced two Missouri defenders as he crossed the halfcourt line.
That momentarily prevented the guard for Tennessee basketball from scoring, but the Vols were unaffected. Knecht leaped and threw Tobe Awaka a two-handed dart for a difficult layup.
After a concerning stretch, the Vols enjoyed an eight-point lead versus Missouri in last place and were finally on the right track. Knecht erupted, Awaka made his mark, and No. 5 Tennessee avoided disaster on Tuesday at Mizzou Arena as they defeated upset-focused Missouri 72-67.
Against the Tigers (8-18, 0-13), who were in last place, Knecht led the Vols (20-6, 10-3 SEC) with 17 points and 10 rebounds. With 10 rebounds and 18 points, Awaka recorded a double-double.
Halfway through the second quarter, Knecht missed a corner 3-pointer off the corner of the backboard. At that moment, he was shooting 0 for 8 and had scored two points from two free throws in the first half. Then, in a pivotal moment, he did what he has done so many times this season: he carried Tennessee. At 13:18, he scored his first field goal with a jumper. After he made a three-pointer, the game began.
