No. 2 Tennessee Beats No. 7 UCLA as CBB Fans Eye March Madness Sweet 16 Matchup

Tennessee is through to the Sweet 16 for the third straight season.

Rick Barnes and the No. 2 Volunteers advanced past the Field of 32 with a 67-58 Sunday night win over No. 7 UCLA.

After back-and-forth action for the opening 17 minutes of action, the Vols pulled away with an eight-point run late in the first half.

Tennessee refused to let up on the momentum as Zakai Zeigler started out the second half with a three-point play. The Bruins were never able to recover from the halftime deficit as the Volunteers' defense locked down to secure the win.

Chaz Lanier led Tennessee with 20 points while going 4-for-5 from deep. Zeigler scored 15, while Jordan Gainey contributed 13 off the bench.

Barnes, who led Tennessee to the Elite Eight last season, last made the Final Four during his 2002-03 season with Texas. He has not returned since joining Tennessee in 2015.

Some fans believe Lanier and Zeigler are set to make program history by leading Tennessee past the Elite Eight this spring:

Tennessee will now play the winner of No. 6 Illinois vs. No. 3 Kentucky. The Fighting Illini and Wildcats tip off their own second-round matchup on Sunday at 5:15 p.m. ET.

The Volunteers will meanwhile get at least four days to prepare for the next round before the Sweet 16 takes place this Thursday and Friday.