The SEC has been the best conference in college basketball all season long, and it has been a pleasure to watch some of the best teams in the nation battle each other week after week. On Saturday, another heavyweight matchup delivered the goods as No.

Everything head coach Rick Barnes, Chaz Lanier and Zakai Zeigler said after No. 6 Tennessee’s 77-69 win at No. 7 Texas A&M Saturday afternoon at Reed Arena in College Station: How much of Tennessee’s game plan was to restrict Texas A&M’s ability to dribble and drive to the rim “It is our game plan.

Facing Texas A&M, the Vols were in another top-10 matchup this season with Tennessee at No. 6 and A&M at No. 7. It was Tennessee’s 4th game of the season against a top-10 opponent, and it goes down as Rick Barnes’s 50th career win against an AP Top 10 team.

Zakai Zeigler scored all 22 of his points against Vanderbilt in the second half of Tennessee's 81-76 win Saturday.

“We were right where we needed to be,” Vols coach Rick Barnes said. There was a “but” coming. “Didn’t make enough winning plays on either end of the court,” Barnes said. Need a brea

Zakai Zeigler and Tennessee were on the verge of a home loss to in-state foe Vanderbilt before turning the tables with a big second half.

Tennessee basketball plays Vanderbilt for the second time this season Saturday. The Vols lost 76-75 on Jan. 18 at Vanderbilt.

No. 18 Kentucky (17-7, 6-5 SEC) defeated No. 4 Tennessee (20-5, 7-5 SEC), 75-64, on Tuesday at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. Rankings reflect the USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll. Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes discussed the Vols' loss after the game.