FINAL: FAU Storms Back to Beat Tennessee

Hot shooting Owls go on big second half run to end Tennessee's season

The Vols were playing the game and the style they wanted. It was slow-paced, it was physical and it was Tennessee Basketball. The Owls open misses weren't going to continue to be misses forever though. Behind a 15-2 second-half run, Florida Atlantic took control and didn't look back to knock off Tennessee 62-55 and end the Vols season.

The Vols battled and tried to do everything they could defensively to win the game. We knew coming in that FAU spaced the floor much better than Duke could. Even with refs that let Tennessee play physical, this way going to be a tough challenge.

Both teams displayed a very balanced offensive attack to no one's surprise. Johnell Davis led the Owls with 15 points and Santiago Vescovi and Jonas Aidoo led the Vols with 10 apiece. Both coaches at times in the game had to be pleased with how their team was executing, but it was Dusty May's team that had the depth to be able to grind out a win.

For Rick Barnes and the Vols, it's into the off-season where a lot of individual players have decisions to make. This was a veteran team, but the only for sure loss is Tyreke Key. There will be plenty of covid year decisions to make, but there is certainly a possibility that some of the older players feel they have unfinished business to take care of.

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