GAME NOTES: In the final contest of a four-game homestand, the Tennessee Volunteers play host to the East Tennessee State Buccaneers in non-conference action at Thompson-Boling Arena on Wednesday afternoon.

The Buccaneers head to Knoxville holding a 3-2 record in the month of December, with their most recent game resulting in a disappointing 84-60 loss at the VCU Rams on Monday night. Following the setback, ETSU's record now sits at 6-3.

Tennessee started the season at 2-3, but has gone 6-1 this month, which includes a 67-46 victory over the Tennessee State Tigers last Saturday. Their impressive December has improved the Volunteers' record to 7-4 this season.

Tennessee leads the all-time series against ETSU, 13-2. The most recent contest between the programs was in December of 2011 when the Vols held off the Bucs, 66-63.

ETSU was down by just six points heading into the second half, but fell victim to VCU's defensive pressure and ended up losing by 24. Reserve Jalen Riley led the Bucs in scoring with 18 points, while Lester Wilson (11 points) and Rashawn Rembert (10 points) also netted double figures. Isaac Banks collected 10 rebounds in the loss. ETSU shot a sub par 38.5 percent from the field against VCU, and allowed the Rams to connect on 51.7 percent of their field goal attempts. The Bucs also turned the ball over 22 times, which VCU was able to convert into 23 points. The Rams also outscored ETSU in points in the paint, 42-18.

Kevin Punter led the Vols with 18 points and four steals in their victory over Tennessee State. Josh Richardson (16 points, six rebounds), reserve Robert Hubbs III (11 points), and Armani Moore (11 rebounds) also contributed in the win. The Vols were only ahead 29-26 at halftime, but a big second half helped them pull away. In the final period, the Vols shot 46.4 percent from the field, which included a 53.3 shooting percentage from beyond the arc. At the defensive end of the court, Tennessee held the Tigers to a 29.2 shooting percentage in the closing 20 minutes. The Vols also forced 16 turnovers which they converted into 25 points.

Riley is the Bucs' leading scorer this season with 19.8 ppg, the second highest average in the Southern Conference. Rembert (17.0 ppg) and Wilson (13.9 ppg) have been ETSU's other top scorers, and they currently rank as the fifth and tenth-best scorers in the SoCon, respectively. The Bucs have scored an impressive 79.4 ppg this season, the second highest average in the SoCon, and their 3-point shooting percentage of 41.2 (first in the SoCon) is a major reason why. ETSU is also ahead in the scoring margin (+4.0), rebounding margin (+2.3), and turnover margin (+1.78). The Bucs do need to improve defensively as they are allowing teams to score 75.4 ppg, and letting them shoot 44.2 percent from the field.

Richardson leads the Vols in scoring this season with 16.3 ppg, the sixth- highest average in the Southeastern Conference. Punter has been Tennessee's other top scorer with 10.8 ppg. The Vols are currently shooting 44.4 percent from the field and averaging 65.9 ppg. Tennessee will need to improve its free-throw shooting, as it is connecting on just 65.4 percent of its attempts (12th in the SEC). Defensively, Tennessee is holding opponents to a 41.7 shooting percentage and an average of 64.5 ppg. The Vols are ahead in the turnover department (+3.5), and they average the least amount of turnovers per game in the SEC (11.18). But Tennessee needs to be stronger down low, as the Vols secure the fewest rebounds per game in the SEC with 32.7 rpg.

Despite being one of the top scoring teams in its conference, ETSU has only netted an average of 62 ppg on the road in December, which includes its last two contests. Assuming the Bucs have trouble scoring on the road yet again, Tennessee should be able to muster enough offense to earn the victory.