The Illini had upset on their minds in leading for much of the game, but the Vols got the play they needed at the buzzer

Tennessee basketball played 14 second-half minutes without Zakai Zeigler, lost Chaz Lanier late due to foul trouble, and played with lineups unimaginable entering Saturday. It won anyway because Jordan Gainey was on the court.

CHAMPAIGN, Illinois — No. 1 Tennessee beat Illinois 66-64, to stay undefeated on the season. This is the first 10-0 start for the Vols since the 1999-2000 season. Jordan Gainey put in the buzzer-beater game-winning bucket, he finished with a career-high 23 points. Igor Milicic Jr. finished with 14 rebounds and 7 points.

No. 1 Tennessee survived an upset bid from Illinois after guard Jordan Gainey made a layup at the buzzer to give his team a 66-64 win. Illinois guard Kasparas Jakučionis made his second free-throw attempt to tie the game at 64 with less than six seconds left before Gainey raced down the floor to end the game in dramatic fashion.

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After Illinois tied the game at 64 on the second of two free throws by Kasparas Jakucionis with 5.7 seconds left, Jordan Gainey scored on a driving layup as time expired.

Illinois (7-2, 1-1 Big Ten) will host No. 1 Tennessee (9-0) on Saturday at State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. Rankings reflect the USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll. Tennessee leads the all time series,

In a physical, defensive-minded battle between Illinois (7-3) and No. 1 Tennessee (10-0) on Saturday in Champaign, the Volunteers prevailed 66-64, escaping the State Farm Center with their unblemished record compliments of a buzzer-beating layup from sixth man Jordan Gainey.

The Big Ten had a loaded slate of action on Saturday, highlighted by marquee matchups for a handful of teams. The best battle was in Champaign, as Illinois took top ranked Tennessee to the final minutes.