The fifth-seeded University of Tennessee men's basketball team trailed No. 12-seeded Auburn (17-16) by as many as 11 points, including by 10 with under 11 minutes to go, but used late a 20-0 run to come all the way back to register a 72-62 victory Thursday afternoon at Bridgestone Arena.
No. 25/RV Tennessee (22-10) got a team-high 27 points, including 17 in those final 11 minutes, from freshman forward Nate Ament, in his return from a right leg injury, to advance to the SEC Tournament quarterfinals.
Senior guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie finished with 15 points, three assists and a game-best three steals in the win. Junior forward Jaylen Carey posted nine points, seven rebounds and two assists.
Tahaad Pettiford led all scorers with 28 points, all but nine of which came in the opening 21 minutes. He shot 9-of-18 from the field, including 5-of-10 beyond the arc, but the Volunteers did claim five turnovers from him.
Senior forward Keyshawn Hall had 10 points for Auburn, but Tennessee held the Third Team All-SEC performer to 4-of-14 shooting, including a 1-of-6 tally from long range.
Overall, the Volunteers' stingy defense limited the Tigers to 35.0 percent (21-of-60) shooting from the field, including to a 26.9 percent (7-of-26) ledger on 3-point attempts. They also amassed an 18-7 edge in bench points in the win.
Tennessee will be back in action Friday at 3 p.m. ET against No. 22 Vanderbilt, the tournament's fourth seed, in a quarterfinal matchup at Bridgestone Arena, live on ESPN.