Chaz Lanier leads No. 6 Tennessee to 77-69 victory at No. 7 Texas

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Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier (2) makes a basket over Texas A&M forward Solomon Washington (9) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

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Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier (2) makes a 3-point basket over Texas A&M guard Zhuric Phelps (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

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Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier (2) drives the baseline against Texas A&M guard Zhuric Phelps (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

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Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier (2) dunks the ball as he beat Texas A&M forward Andersson Garcia (11) down the baseline during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

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Tennessee guard Jordan Gainey (11) makes a basket over Texas A&M forward Andersson Garcia (11) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

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Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler (5) reacts after hitting a 3-point shot against Texas A&M during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

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Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler, center, tries to get out of a trap along the baseline by Texas A&M forward Solomon Washington, left, and forward Andersson Garcia, back right, during an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

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Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler (5) drives the lane against Texas A&M guard Zhuric Phelps (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

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Texas A&M guard Wade Taylor IV (4) drives the lane against Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

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Texas A&M guard Wade Taylor IV (4) shoots over Tennessee forward Felix Okpara (34) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

By BRENT ZWERNEMAN

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Chaz Lanier had a season-high 30 points, including 8 3-pointers, and No. 6 Tennessee defeated No. 7 Texas A&M 77-69 on Saturday.

Lanier, a senior transfer from North Florida, went 8 of 13 from beyond the arc and 10 of 18 overall in game that featured 11 lead changes and eight ties.

Jordan Gainey made a 3-pointer with 3:33 to left to give Tennessee (22-5, 9-5 Southeastern Conference) a 63-59 lead. Zakai Zeigler hit a 3 in front of the Vols’ bench on an inbound pass with 21 seconds remaining to seal the victory.

The Aggies (20-7, 9-5) started the game with three consecutive dunks before the Vols finally scored a little more than three minutes into the raucous setting at Reed Arena.

A&M led 17-8 early before the Vols scored the next seven points to climb back in the game.

Wade Taylor IV led the Aggies with 18 points, despite missing all nine of his 3-point attempts.

Takeaways

Texas A&M: The Aggies were coming off a 16-point loss at No. 21 Mississippi State that snapped a five-game winning streak, and they’ve lost two straight games for the first time since mid-January (at home against Alabama and at Kentucky). A&M, despite failing to collect its first home victory against a top-10 opponent in program history, likely won’t be affected much in the NCAA Tournament seedings.

Tennessee: The Volunteers hadn’t played since an 81-76 home victory over Vanderbilt a week earlier, and the rested crew appeared to have more energy and spirit from the start against the Aggies.

Key moment

The Aggies led 40-38 with 15:27 remaining when Tennessee’s Jahmai Mashack collected an acrobatic, improbable tip-in while trying to grab the rebound off a Gainey missed 3-pointer.

Key stat

Both teams made 90% of their free throws, each hitting 18 of 20.

Up next

The Volunteers play at LSU on Tuesday night. The Aggies host Vanderbilt on Wednesday night.

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