VFL Grant Williams must love it when Tennessee squares off against Vanderbilt.
While the former Tennessee basketball star was involved in several wins over the Commodores during his time on Rocky Top, Williams’ best career collegiate game came against Vanderbilt in January 2019.
With Tennessee looking to defend the No. 1 ranking in the nation in Memorial Gymnasium, Williams put the Vols on his back and exploded for a career-high 43 points in the 88-83 overtime victory. Williams hit 10-of-15 from the floor and added in a perfect 23-of-23 from the free throw line.
Ironically enough, Williams set a new NBA career-high on Saturday night at the same time the Vols were playing the Commodores in Nashville, the same location of Williams’ 43-point game.
While Williams and the Dallas Mavericks fell to Sacramento 120-115 on Saturday in Dallas, the former Vol recorded a new career high with 27 points in the loss. Williams also tied a career-best seven made three-pointers in the game.
— Grant Williams (@Grant2Will) January 28, 2024
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Williams’ 27 points only trailed Luka Doncic’s 28-point showing for the Mavericks’ scoring leader on Saturday.
The former Vol posted a funny picture after Doncic’s 73-point game against Atlanta on Friday night. Williams’ picture has more than 10 million views on X.
82 points right here💪🏽 Congrats brother that was special to witness it pic.twitter.com/P6MbW8Zuth
— Grant Williams (@Grant2Will) January 27, 2024
Despite a back-and-forth first half of action in Nashville on Saturday night, No. 5 Tennessee defeated Vanderbilt 75-62 behind another dominant performance from guard Dalton Knecht. The Tennessee veteran dropped 32 points against the in-state rival to extend his five-game scoring streak to 160 total points.