Chase Mason scores 5 TDs, and South Dakota State cruises past Southern Illinois 52-16

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Terrence Hill Jr. scored 19 points, leading No. 11 Tennessee to an 83-78 victory over Tennessee State on Friday night. The Vols, currently ranked 11th, held off a late surge from the Tigers, who finished the game with 250 combined points in their two prior wins. Jalen Haralson contributed 15 points off the bench, while Tyler Lundblade added 14, and Dai Dai Ames had 11 points.

Tennessee led by 15 midway through the second half before the Tigers closed the gap. Jayden Jones, with 13 points, scored four straight to narrow the margin to seven. Ty-Laur Johnson, who finished with 22 points, converted a three-point play to bring the score to within five. However, Tennessee State could not sustain the lead, with Ames scoring eight consecutive points to propel the Vols ahead 42-37 at halftime.

Hill recorded 10 points in the first half, contributing to the Vols' early dominance. Johnson led Tennessee State with 10 points, making all eight of his free throws. The Tigers, a No. 15 seed in last season's NCAA Tournament, were defeated by second-seeded Iowa State. This season, they are favored to return to the tournament. Tennessee State started the season with a 30-point loss to Murray State but scored a combined 250 points in their two subsequent wins.

The Vols, coached by Rick Barnes, plan to "re-wire" several players to address their attack needs. While most of the eight players who joined through the transfer portal are scorers, Barnes is seeking those capable of being strong defenders and rebounders. Tennessee State will face South Florida on Tuesday, while Tennessee hosts No. 5 Michigan State on the same day.