On Thursday night at the Baha Mar Championship in the Bahamas, No. 11 Tennessee basketball showcased their prowess by defeating Virginia with a convincing score of 64 - 42. This victory marked the start of their journey at the tournament and extended their winning streak on the young season to five.

Tennessee's Lanier Leads the Charge in Bahamas Victory

Senior Guard Chaz Lanier's Second-Half Surge

In the second half, senior guard Chaz Lanier truly led the way. He scored an astonishing 18 of his game-high 26 points in the final frame. It was a remarkable display as he scored UT's first 11 points and 13 of the first 17 points, which extended Tennessee's lead to a whopping 26 after being up by just one at the break. His impact was felt throughout the game, and UT would go on to lead for nearly 33 minutes in this win.Lanier's shooting from beyond the arc was particularly impressive. He hit back-to-back threes to begin the second half. Nine of his 11 straight points to start the frame came courtesy of the three-point line. In total, he shot 4-of-8 from distance in 17 minutes, demonstrating his proficiency from long range.

Overall Statistics and Contributions

Overall, Lanier finished 10-of-23 from the field and 6-of-12 from three. His shooting accuracy was a key factor in Tennessee's success. In addition to his scoring, he added four rebounds, with two coming on the offensive glass, showing his tenacity on the boards. He also had a steal to his name. His plus/minus of +29 in 30 minutes was the second-highest on the team, highlighting his positive influence on the game.Virginia coach Ron Sanchez briefly met with the media after his team's loss to Tennessee. Here's a look at what he had to say about what went wrong in the matchup with the Vols.