Box Score KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Sophomore guard Darryl Simmons II posted a game-high 22 points, but it was not enough as the Gardner-Webb (0-1) men's basketball team dropped a hard-fought 80-64 contest at No. 12 Tennessee (1-0) on Monday evening inside Thompson-Boling Arena.
 
Graduates Jamaine Mann and Anthony Selden each chipped in 13 points as the Runnin' Bulldogs shot 24-of-55 (43.6%) from the floor, including 6-for-23 (26.1%) from distance. Gardner-Webb pulled down 32 rebounds compared to just 29 for the Volunteers.
 
After Tennessee jumped out to a 5-0 lead, Simmons put the Runnin' Bulldogs on the board for the first time in the 2024-25 season with a wing three before a floater in the lane knotted the score with 17:06 on the first half clock.
 
A pair of free throws from graduate guard Anthony Selden pulled Gardner-Webb even at 9-all, but the Volunteers ripped off nine of the next 13 points to control am 18-13 lead at the under-12 media timeout.
 
The Volunteers were able to create separation with a 12-5 run over the next 4-plus minutes of game time, extending the lead to 30-18 while forcing a timeout by the Red and Black with 7:30 remaining before the half.
 
Coming out of the break, Simmons knocked down a jumper, sparking a quick 6-0 burst by GWU while trimming the deficit to 30-24. UT built as many as a 14-point lead at 42-28 before taking a 44-32 lead into the locker room after a floater at the buzzer for the Runnin' Bulldogs was waved off.
 
Tennessee scored the first seven points of the second half to balloon its lead to 51-32 before a turnaround jumper from Selden and dial from distance out of the hand of Simmons put a stop to the run with 16:37 on the clock.
 
However, the Volunteers extended to their biggest lead of the game, 65-41, following a run of 14-4 midway through the second stanza. Trailing 75-52, Gardner-Webb continued to battle, reeling off 10 in a row following a poster dunk from redshirt senior forward Isaiah Richards and smooth floater in the lane by freshman guard Colin Hawkins, closing the gap to 75-62 with less than four minutes to play.
 
Unfortunately, it was too little, too late as Tennessee finished the game scoring five of the final seven points to secure the 80-64 win.
 
Gardner-Webb will return to the hardwood on Friday, November 10 as it travels to Durham, N.C. to face the Eagles of NC Central. Tip is slated for 1 p.m.