UConn showed it can win big games even when star Kemba Walker doesn't have a big game.

Walker was held to a season-low 16 points on 6-of-17 shooting, but had seven assists as the eighth-ranked Huskies held off Tennessee 72-61 in Hartford on Saturday.

Alex Oriakhi chipped in 12 points and 10 rebounds and Jeremy Lamb scored 16 for the Huskies (16-2), who dive straight back into Big East play next week at Marquette before hosting No. 15 Louisville and No. 3 Syracuse.

The Volunteers took the lead early in the first half, using a 15-6 burst to go up by eight points. Tennessee held Walker scoreless for almost 15 minutes before the Connecticut star got going. He scored eight points over the last 5:23 to spark a 15-7 run. Walker’s 3-pointer at the buzzer gave the Huskies a 32-31 lead at the break.

Tennessee (12-7) tied it twice early in the second half and was within 52-51 after Melvin Goins knocked down a jumper with 8:37 remaining. But Connecticut went to work on the defensive end after that, holding the Volunteers to one field goal over the next 5:31 and using a 14-3 spurt that bumped the lead to 12 points.

Tennessee will say goodbye to coach Bruce Pearl again, after he was given a one-game reprieve from his eight-game SEC suspension. He is scheduled to return when the Volunteers visit Kentucky on Feb. 8. Pearl was suspended for misleading NCAA officials during an investigation. The suspension only pertains to SEC games.