FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Jonas Aidoo had 23 points and 12 rebounds, Dalton Knecht added 22 points as No. 8 Tennessee beat Arkansas 92-63 Wednesday night to secure its first victory at Bud Walton Arena since 2009.
The Razorbacks, led by Tramon Mark's 12 points, kept it close midway through the first half as Jeremiah Davenport nailed a three-pointer to tie the game 18-18 with 12:16 remaining.
But that's when Tennessee (18-6, 8-3 SEC) settled in and started to create separation.
The duo of Knecht and Jonas Aidoo took over as the Volunteers put together a 14-4 run to take a 32-22 lead. Tennessee forced Arkansas (12-12, 3-8 SEC) to be a jump-shooting team, one of the Hogs' weaknesses, and they turned missed shots and turnovers into scoring opportunities.
Arkansas shot 37.9% from the field and was 8 of 23 (34.8%) from three. More crucially, the Razorbacks tallied 15 turnovers and were outscored in the paint 48-22.
With just under 2:30 to play, Davenport made a three-pointer, and Mark put in a layup to cut the Volunteers' lead to 46-40 at the break.
Mark was the only Razorback to score in double digits as Khalif Battle, Davonte Davis and Jalen Graham added eight points each.
The second half was all Tennessee.
Zakai Zeigler drilled a three-pointer to give the Volunteers an 11-point lead, and it was all over after that.
Tennessee's Jordan Gainey made two three-pointers, Knecht knocked down a pair of free throws and Zeigler put in a layup — in just a 3:43 stretch — the Volunteers piled on a 14-2 run to take a 73-49 lead with 11:05 to play in the game.
Arkansas trailed by 32 points, its most prominent of the game, after a pair of Aidoo baskets, and by then, it was too late for the Hogs to battle back.
The Razorbacks return to action Saturday on the road against Mississippi State. Coverage from the Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville, Miss., begins at 1:00 p.m. Central on ESPNU.