No. 12 Tennessee holds off N.C. State 79-70 in Hall of Fame Series for 4th straight win

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North Carolina State guard DJ Horne (0) flips over Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler as he tires to steal the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in San Antonio, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler (5) celebrates his score against North Carolina State during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in San Antonio, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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Tennessee forward Tobe Awaka (11) and North Carolina State guard Kam Woods (2) battle for control of a rebound during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in San Antonio, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler (5) drives to the basket past North Carolina State guard Jayden Taylor, center left, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in San Antonio, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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Tennessee forward Tobe Awaka (11) and North Carolina State guard Casey Morsell battle for a rebound during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in San Antonio, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler (5) drives to the basket past North Carolina State guard Jayden Taylor (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in San Antonio, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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North Carolina State coach Kevin Keatts reacts to a call during the second half of the team’s NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee in San Antonio, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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North Carolina State guard Jayden Taylor (1) celebrates after a score against Tennessee during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in San Antonio, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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Tennessee forward Tobe Awaka (11) and North Carolina State guard Casey Morsell (14) battle for a rebound during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in San Antonio, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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Tennessee guard Santiago Vescovi (25) drives to the basket against North Carolina State forward DJ Burns Jr. (30) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in San Antonio, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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North Carolina State guard Jayden Taylor (1) is fouled by Tennessee guard Jahmai Mashack, second from right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in San Antonio, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht (3) and North Carolina State guard Casey Morsell (14) chase the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in San Antonio, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes talks to his players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against North Carolina State in San Antonio, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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North Carolina State guard MJ Rice (3) is fouled by Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht, center right, as he drives to the basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in San Antonio, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler (5) celebrates after a score against North Carolina State during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in San Antonio, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

By RAUL DOMINGUEZ

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Josiah-Jordan James had 23 points, Zakai Zeigler added 20 and No. 12 Tennessee held off N.C. State 79-70 in the Hall of Fame Series on Saturday night.

“We know that when we play teams like this, it’s going to be a physical game,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said. “These guys are used to it. The neat part for me at the end I thought their composure, their togetherness on the bench was terrific. They knew what they had to do. I had to say very little during the timeout.”

The Volunteers (8-3) held the Wolfpack (7-3) to 10 points in the final seven minutes to secure the victory, including a 3-pointer with 24.1 seconds remaining.

“That’s what we hang our hats on,” James said. “We knew that in crunch time, that’s what we had to be able to rely on. I was proud of how we executed at the end.”

Jahmai Mashack added 11 points for Tennessee, which has won four straight.

D.J. Horne had 16 points for N.C. State. D.J. Burns Jr. added 15 and Jayden Taylor had 11.

It was a frenetic and physical contest, with the teams combining for 22 turnovers and 36 personal fouls.

“It was one of those games that kind of felt like a late (or) middle of January, early February ACC game,” Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts said. “It was a good thing.”

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Tennessee has not lost since dropping three straight, including losses against then-No. 1 Kansas and No. 2 Purdue in the Maui Invitational during Thanksgiving week.

N.C. State opened 3 for 4 on 3-pointers in taking a 15-11 lead. The Wolfpack were 2 for 7 on 3s the remainder of the first half.

Volunteers guard Santiago Vescovi opened the second half with his own 7-2 run to put Tennessee up 41-33. After its lead was cut to 56-55, Vescovi cut to the rim for a layup with 8:25 remaining.

Vescovi finished with nine points on 3-for-6 shooting.

“We fought,” Keatts said. “It was a good game. If you’re sitting there watching the game, you’re saying, ‘Man what a great game that is.’ It’s a lot to build on. We’re never going to take a moral victory in this program, but boy we saw some good things.”

N.C. State junior Kam Woods debuted after sitting out the start of the season when the NCAA denied his initial waiver request. Woods, who played at North Carolina AT&T last season, finished with nine points.

BIG PICTURE

Tennessee: The Volunteers were tested after winning their last three games by an average of 15.3 points. Tennessee was able to force 11 turnovers, which led to 16 points.

N.C. State: The Wolfpack were 8 for 18 on 3-pointers after a fast start. N.C. State entered the game shooting 34 percent from 3-pointers but shot 44 percent against Tennessee.

UP NEXT

Tennessee: Hosts Tarleton State on Thursday night.

N.C. State: Hosts Saint Louis on Wednesday night.

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