NASHVILLE -- There's a scene in the hilarious movie classic "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" in which the stubborn Black Knight refuses to allow King Arthur to cross a bridge.

King Arthur wields his sword to whack off one appendage after another. Arms are lopped off, then legs, yet the blood-soaked Black Knight won't yield.

"It's only a flesh wound,'' he protests.

That's Dane Bradshaw for you.

Twist and tear the ligaments in his wrist. He won't yield.

Whack him in one shoulder, then the other. He keeps coming at you.

It's only a flesh wound.

Today back in Knoxville, Bradshaw will undergo MRI exams on his aching shoulders.

The right shoulder, in particular, would be the one he used to lift his arm for the game-winning tip-in Monday night in a 79-77 victory over Oklahoma State in an environment at the Gaylord Entertainment Center that had the feel of March Madness.

The Vols prevailed over the previously unbeaten Cowboys in as good a game as you'll find in December.

And in the end, after 39-plus minutes of absolute war between two good teams, it was Tennessee's wounded warrior who came up with the game-turning plays.

Now Oklahoma State knows how Florida feels.

The Vols knocked off the eventual NCAA champions twice last year, each time with Bradshaw making the winning basket in the final seconds.

And, that, of course, with a painful wrist injury that would require postseason surgery.

Bradshaw has been hurting again. Ever since the Thanksgiving trip to Madison Square Garden.

He suffered an injury to his left shoulder against Butler. He woke up the morning after the North Carolina game and couldn't raise his right arm.

X-rays were negative. The Vols have waited until today on the more revealing MRI.

"You kind of hold off on the MRI,'' Bradshaw said Monday night. "You don't want to learn things you don't want to know.''

Things like how bad the shoulder injuries might really be?

"It's easier to play with the shoulder than with the wrist,'' Bradshaw said. "It doesn't hurt every single hit of the ball. Just if I extend my shoulder all the way.''

Like when he has to shoot a free throw.

Bradshaw visibly flinches when he sends up a free throw. It was so tight he shot an airball against Western Kentucky.

With 2:54 to play Monday and the score tied 74-74, his first free throw barely touched the front of the rim. The second one crawled over the rim and fell in.

"In the back of my mind I know it's gonna hurt,'' he said.

"He can't even raise his arm to make a free throw,'' said coach Bruce Pearl. "I thought about subbing him to injury.

"But how could you? How could you in that situation?''

You can't, of course. Pearl knows Bradshaw will pay dividends in those telling moments when the game is to be won or lost.

With the score tied 77-77 inside the final minute, Oklahoma State had the ball and looked to get it in to big Mario Boggan on the low block.

Bradshaw, giving up three inches and 40 pounds to Boggan, flashed around, deflected the incoming pass and Tennessee had the steal with 24 seconds to play.

"With my shoulder, I've studied more film than ever,'' Bradshaw said. "I knew the play that was coming and was able to beat him to the spot.''

Then he got to the right spot to tip in Ramar Smith's missed drive with 1.9 seconds to play.

"It hurt a little on the way up,'' Bradshaw said, "but put me in a game-winner from two feet and I've got you all day long.''

Freshman Duke Crews is getting used to it.

"He's not the quickest guy, he's not the strongest guy, he's not the biggest guy,'' said Crews, "but 10 out of 10 times to me, he seems like the smartest guy on the court.''

And he's the toughest guy. Like the Black Knight, Bradshaw doesn't know when he should be beaten.

It's only a flesh wound.