Chaz Lanier has officially etched his name into Tennessee Basketball history, surpassing Vols legend Chris Lofton to become the program’s single-season 3-point leader. Lanier drained his record-breaking 119th three-pointer against UCLA in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Rupp Arena, surpassing Lofton’s 118 from the 2007-08 season.
Lanier, who entered the game with 116 threes, had already showcased his shooting prowess with a 29-point, six-three-pointer performance in Tennessee’s first-round win over Wofford. His consistency from beyond the arc has been a major factor in Tennessee’s success this season, and his record-breaking shot came with 16:07 left in the second half against UCLA.
Before Lanier, Lofton held the top three single-season 3-point marks in Tennessee history, with 118 makes in 2007-08, 114 in 2005-06, and 106 in 2006-07. Lofton also made 93 threes in his freshman season (2004-05), showing his long-standing dominance as Tennessee’s greatest shooter—until now.
Lanier has delivered big-time performances all season. He drained a season-high eight threes in Tennessee’s road win at Texas A&M, tying for the second-most in a single game in program history. He also hit seven triples against Baylor in The Bahamas and had six against Virginia and Norfolk State.
Lofton still holds the program’s single-game record with nine threes, made against Georgia in 2006, but Lanier has come close multiple times this season.
Overall, Lanier has hit five or more threes in eight games, four or more in 13 games, and three or more in 21 games. He was held without a three-pointer just twice this season—against Kentucky and Austin Peay.
Tennessee’s elite shooting history includes just three players who have hit more than 100 threes in a single season: Lanier, Lofton, and Santiago Vescovi (102 in 2022-23).
Before transferring to Tennessee, Lanier showcased his deep-range ability at North Florida, where he made 106 threes last season while shooting an impressive 44.0% from beyond the arc. He was one of the most sought-after players in the NCAA transfer portal, ultimately choosing the Vols over Kentucky and BYU.
A Nashville native and former Ensworth School standout, Lanier entered the NCAA Tournament leading the SEC in made threes (110) and ranking seventh nationally. His efficiency was just as impressive, ranking in the top 15 in threes per game (3.24) and top 50 in 3-point percentage (40.0%).
With Tennessee advancing to the Sweet 16 after a strong win over UCLA, Lanier’s hot hand continues to be a crucial weapon. His record-breaking season is already legendary, but the Vols are hoping his shooting can carry them even further in March Madness.