By IlliniGuys Staff

December 9, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

KNOXVILLE, Tn. - Dalton Knecht scored eight points to key a 10-0 second half run as #17 Tennessee overcame a halftime deficit to down 20th ranked Illinois 86-79 Saturday afternoon.

The Illini (7-2) were coming off an emotional upset win over 11th ranked Florida Atlantic at the Jimmy V Classic in New York City Tuesday night and took control of this game with a 16-6 run to close the first half and take a 36-34 lead into intermission.

But Knecht, a transfer from Northern Colorado, lifted the Volunteers from a 44-40 deficit, their largest at home this season.  He finished with a team-high 21 points for Tennessee (6-3), which has played six ranked teams already this season.

Illini leading scorer Terrance Shannon had 22 points, but was held to just 5-of-16 shooting.  Overall, Illinois shot just 35 percent from the field after blistering the nets for 63% from the field in the win over the Owls four nights earlier.

Quincy Guerrier added a game and season high 22 points and Coleman Hawkins added 12 points for Illinois, which takes a week off for exams before hosting Colgate on Sunday, December 17th as part of a men's and women's doubleheader at State Farm Center.

Stay with IlliniGuys.com for complete postgame coverage from Knoxville.