Dalton Knecht, Tennessee Impress CBB Fans with Win vs. Creighton to Reach Elite Eight

Dalton Knecht's game-high 24 points helped lead the No. 2 seed Tennessee Volunteers to a 82-75 win over the No. 3 seed Creighton Bluejays in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament on Friday evening.

Tennessee used an 18-0 second half run to turn a 39-37 deficit into a 55-39 lead in a 4:48 span. Knecht posted six points and four assists during that run.

Creighton stormed back, though, and cut the lead to three points on a pair of occasions (62-59 with 6:02 left, and 65-62 with 4:44 remaining).

However, Knecht responded with a made three-pointer each time, putting Tennessee back up six.

Creighton certainly had its chances down the stretch but came up empty on three straight positions with the score 68-64 in the Vols' favor.

However, the first of those possessions ended when a Steven Ashworth pass appeared to go off Knecht's fingertips before going out-of-bounds. The refs called it out on Creighton, though, and the Vols got the ball back.

Tennessee eventually broke through with a Tobe Awaka three-point play before icing the game with free throws down the stretch.

Zakai Zeigler complemented Knecht's night with 18 points, six assists and four rebounds, while Josiah-Jordan James added 15 points. Baylor Scheierman's 25 points paced the Bluejays.

But Knecht's hot shooting late and his efforts during the 18-0 run ultimately made the difference here. Fans and analysts were impressed with his work and that of his teammates as well.

Tennessee will now play No. 1 seed Purdue in the Elite Eight on Sunday, with the winner headed to the Final Four to face either No. 4 seed Duke or No. 11 seed North Carolina State.

This marks the Vols' second-ever Elite Eight appearance, with the last one occurring in 2010. A win against Purdue will mark its first-ever Final Four berth.