KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee has matched the longest winning streak of Rick Barnes’ 32-year head coaching career.
Admiral Schofield and Grant Williams scored 13 points each as the top-ranked Volunteers defeated Missouri 72-60 on Tuesday night to earn their 17th straight victory, extending a school record. Barnes’ only other 17-game winning streak came in 2009-10 at Texas.
“You’ve got to give these guys credit,” Barnes said. “They’ve done the work, put it in. Now we’re getting toward the end of the regular season, we’re halfway through the conference season, I guess. It’s only going to get tougher, and I think we know that.”
Tennessee extended the longest active Division I winning streak by spoiling Missouri coach Cuonzo Martin’s return to Knoxville.
Martin coached Tennessee to a 63-41 record from 2011-14 but never completely won over the fan base. He left for California after leading the Vols to an NCAA regional semifinal appearance, turning down an offer of a raise and an extension.
Although Martin had split two meetings with Tennessee since taking over Missouri’s program in 2017, neither of those games was in Knoxville. Before the opening tip, a “Thank You Cuonzo: Welcome Back to Rocky Top” message appeared on the video board.
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Missouri hosts Texas A&M on Saturday.
Tennessee hosts Florida on Saturday.
