Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl had another run in at another high school basketball game.

Pearl was at Chattanooga East Ridge for Friday night's game against Notre Dame when a referee stopped play and went to the scorer's table to address the situation.

According to more than one Chattanooga media report, Pearl was asked to leave.

Pearl was ejected from his son Steven's game at West last season after an exchange with an official.

Pearl said that wasn't the case this time.

"The official went down to an administrator and said 'if he says anything else, he'll have to go,' '' said Pearl, who was at East Ridge to evaluate Pioneers' 6-foot-10 center Phillip Jurick. "All I had said to the official was 'let them play.' ''

Pearl said he left the gym on his own accord to "diffuse the situation'' before returning to watch the rest of the game.

Pearl said he should not have said anything to begin with.

"I should not go to a game to evaluate and say anything to an official,'' Pearl said. "A few people there asked me if I had been thrown out, and I said, 'No.' "

Pearl said in the case involving the ejection at his son's game, a report was filed by the official.

"No report was filed from East Ridge,'' Pearl said.

Pearl said he apologized and spoke with coaches from both teams after the game.