Chandler scores 28, No. 13 Tennessee beats Colorado 69-54

Updated Dec. 4, 2021 4:34 p.m. ET

Associated Press

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Freshman Kennedy Chandler scored 16 of his season-high 28 points in the first half and No. 13 Tennessee pulled away from Colorado 69-54 on Saturday.

Tennessee (6-1) overcame a slow start to win its third straight since an 18-point loss to No. 6 Villanova. Santiago Vescovi had 13 points for the Volunteers.

Evan Battey had 12 points and Tristan Da Silva scored 11 for the Buffaloes (6-3).

Colorado scored the first five points of the second half to get within five but the Volunteers went on a 10-4 run. The Buffaloes got within five with 8:34 left but Tennessee scored the next eight points.

Chandler hit key baskets to make sure the Colorado didn’t get closer than five.

The Buffaloes led 17-16 with 8:58 left in the first half but then struggled on the offensive end. They went 1 of 7 from the field and had eight of their first-half turnovers the rest of the way.

Chandler took over late in the first half to help Tennessee pull away. He scored eight of his 16 points in the final two minutes to turn a 26-22 lead into a 10-point advantage at intermission.

BIG PICTURE

Tennessee: The Volunteers will hold onto its poll position and could move up. Josiah-Jordan James returned after missing the last two games and scored five points, but another breakout game for Chandler is a positive for Tennessee. The freshman has scored in double figures in all but one game this season.

Colorado: Lost another tough one to a ranked opponent this week. The Buffaloes hung tough with UCLA and had a chance in this one until the Volunteers pulled away. The turnovers in the first half hurt and 15 overall were too much against a ranked team.

UP NEXT

Tennessee: Faces Texas Tech on Tuesday in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden.

Colorado: Hosts Eastern Washington on Wednesday night.

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