Even in the middle of an undefeated start when top-ranked Tennessee had throttled anyone who happened to get in its way, Zakai Zeigler had stayed on the floor for all but 30 plays against top-100 teams this season.

"I need you to give me your favorite play." Tennessee ran that play Saturday at Illinois, executing it masterfully to get Jordan Gainey a game-winning layup to propel the No. 1 Vols (10-0) to a 66-64 win at the buzzer over the Fighting Illini (7-3).

Jordan Gainey drove the length of the court and scooped in a right-handed layup on the left side of the hoop at the buzzer to lift No. 1 Tennessee to a 66-64 nonconference victory over Illinois before a sellout crowd Saturday afternoon in Champaign,

No. 1 Tennessee survived an upset bid from Illinois after guard Jordan Gainey made a layup at the buzzer to give his team a 66-64 win. Illinois guard Kasparas Jakučionis made his second free-throw attempt to tie the game at 64 with less than six seconds left before Gainey raced down the floor to end the game in dramatic fashion.

It took a long driving layup through plenty of traffic at the buzzer, but Jordan Gainey saved the day for Tennessee on Saturday night. Gainey lifted top-ranked Tennessee to a stunning 66-64 win over Illinois at the State Farm Center in Champaign.