KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Kevin Punter scored 18 points and Tennessee used a 13-0 run in the second half to propel itself to a 67-46 victory over Tennessee State on Saturday night.
Josh Richardson added 16 points and eight rebounds.
Holding on to a two-point lead with 13:05 left, the Volunteers started their game-defining run, highlighted by seven points from Punter.
During the run, the Vols held Tennessee State (2-11) scoreless for 6:21.
Tennessee (7-4) took its biggest lead of the first half following a 14-3 spurt during which the Tigers were 1-for-5 shooting and committed four turnovers.
Tennessee State, however, would immediately begin a run of its own. The Tigers finished the first half on a 13-2 run that cut the Vols' 14-point lead to 29-26, holding Tennessee scoreless in the final 3:15.
Marcus Roper led Tennessee State with 16 points. Jay Harris added 15 and made 5 of 9 3-pointers.
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