No. 18 Tennessee took a big step toward proving its late-January slump has come to an end as the Volunteers defeated No. 15 Kansas 80-61 on Saturday in an SEC/Big 12 Challenge game at Knoxville, Tenn.

The victory was the second consecutive for the Volunteers (12-3) in a mini-run that comes on the heels of two consecutive defeats in SEC play.

The Jayhawks (11-6) lost for the fourth time in their last five games.

Tennessee got it done all over the floor. The Vols shot 52.8 percent from the floor, hit 8-of-13 3-pointers, held a 38-23 rebound average and held the Jayhawks to 37.7 percent shooting and 6 of 24 from 3-point territory.

Defensive specialist Yves Pons led the Vols with 17 points and added five rebounds before leaving the floor with an injury at the 8:45 mark of the second half.

Both of the Vols' last two victories have come with Jaden Springer back on the floor after missing the two previous games with an ankle injury. He contributed 13 points Saturday.

John Fulkerson added 11 points and six rebounds for Tennessee while Victor Bailey Jr. contributed 11 points and four assists.

David McCormack led the Jayhawks with 17 points. Marcus Garrett had 15 points for Kansas and Jalen Wilson had 10 points, six assists and nine rebounds.

Ochai Agbaji, who entered leading Kansas with 14.4 points per game, was held to nine points on 3-of-12 shooting and made just 1 of 9 from 3-point range.

The Vols owned the first half as they led 40-26 at the break. They shot 58.6 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes and went 5 of 7 from 3-point range. The had 20 points in the paint, while Pons had 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting.

Kansas shot 26.9 percent from the floor in the first half and went 1 of 12 on 3-point shots. They finished 37.7 percent from the field in the game and were 6 of 24 from distance overall.

--Field Level Media