University of Tennessee Athletics
Perfect Timing For Baulkman's Best Night
December 22, 2014 | Men's Basketball
By Brian Rice
UTSports.com
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- When Tennessee needed an offensive boost on Monday night, Devon Baulkman proved he was up to the task.
The junior college transfer had the best night of his UT career, scoring 22 points on 7 of 9 shooting in the Volunteers' 64-54 win over Mercer at Thompson-Boling Arena.
"He was fantastic," Tennessee head coach Donnie Tyndall said. "I always tell these guys, if you get your hands on balls in different ways, whether it's deflections or steals or rebounds, it's amazing how your offense will start clicking and I think that was the case for him tonight."
Baulkman had just 14 total points on the season through his first six games as a Volunteer. He has 42 in his last three.
"I'm just taking my time every day and being patient," Baulkman said. "The rim feels big."
He hit four 3-pointers in games against North Carolina State and Tennessee Tech, a pair in each, en route to 10-point performances in both games. In keeping with the theme, he hit four on Monday night.
"It was just being patient, reading the defense, taking our time and running our plays," Baulkman said.
It came at a perfect time for the Volunteers, who needed another scorer to step up to compliment Josh Richardson. Kevin Punter and Armani Moore, each averaging double-figures coming in, were held to six points a piece while in and out of the lineup with foul trouble.
Baulkman got started early with a pair of 3-pointers in his first two minutes of action, the second of which gave the Volunteers an 8-7 lead in a low-scoring first half. He finished the half with a powerful dunk off an Ian Chiles steal with 0:21 left in the opening period that put UT up 27-15 at the break.
The second half would be even stronger, with Baulkman playing a key role in the scoring run that put UT in control for good.
Mercer cut the lead to four with just over 9:00 to go. A foul put Richardson at the free throw line, where the senior made the first, but missed the second. A Willie Carmichael III rebound made its way to Baulkman's hands for his third longball of the night. Moments later, Baulkman came up with a steal and finished the break with a layup that pushed the UT lead back to 10.
"He was a scorer in junior college, he had a lot of big games in a good league," Tyndall said. "I read his quote a couple of days ago that he had been praying and I told him I had been praying too. It looks like the prayers were answered tonight."
