No. 8 Vols Stun No. 3 Auburn, 70-65, to Reach SEC Final

The Tennessee Volunteers are heading to the SEC Championship Game after a gritty 70-65 victory over No. 3 Auburn in the conference semifinals. The Vols, ranked No. 8 in the AP Poll and No. 6 in the Coaches Poll, used a combination of defensive intensity and clutch shot-making to take down the Tigers in a hard-fought battle.

Tennessee set the tone early with stifling defense, forcing Auburn into tough shots and turnovers. Zakai Zeigler and Felix Okpara were instrumental in keeping Auburn’s high-powered offense in check, limiting their top scorers and controlling the glass.

Offensively, the Vols got a huge lift from Chaz Lanier With , who delivered yet another standout performance. But Zakai Zeigler finished with a game-high 20 points, hitting timely shots down the stretch to keep Auburn at bay. Igor Milicic Jr. also chipped in with clutch three-pointers, while Jordan Gainey provided much-needed energy off the bench.

Auburn made a late push, cutting Tennessee’s lead to just three points in the final minutes. However, the Vols responded with key defensive stops and free throws from Zeigler and Lanier to seal the victory and punch their ticket to the SEC title game.

With the win, Tennessee advances to the SEC Championship Game To Play The Winner Between Florida & Alabama on Sunday, where they’ll look to claim their second conference tournament title in three years. The Vols are playing some of their best basketball at the right time, building momentum for the NCAA Tournament.

Can the Vols finish the job and bring home another SEC title? Stay tuned as Tennessee looks to cap off a dominant tournament run.