NASHVILLE -- Dane Bradshaw's tip-in with 1.9 seconds remaining lifted Tennessee to its biggest win of the season Monday night in a 79-77 triumph over previously unbeaten Oklahoma State.

The Cowboys' last gasp was a three-quarters-court pass from Byron Eaton to Mario Boggan, but Boggan's jumper from just inside the 3-point line bounced off the rim as the buzzer sounded.

The Vols improved to 9-2 while dropping the 15th-ranked Cowboys to 11-1 before the Gaylord Entertainment Center crowd of 8,118.

"It's a big night for Tennessee basketball," said UT coach Bruce Pearl, who suffered the worst loss of his short stint with the Vols against Oklahoma State last season, 89-73 in Oklahoma City. "It's everything I hoped for and something I look forward to building on.''

The game featured everything fans could hope.

There were 11 lead changes -- five in the final 6 1/2 minutes. When Boggan sank a free throw to cap a three-point play and score his team-high 20th point with 1:35 remaining, it resulted in one of three ties (77-77) over the final 6 1/2 minutes.

The Vols looked to answer with a clear-out for Chris Lofton, but after splitting two defenders on a drive to the basket, Lofton had his scoop shot rejected by Boggan.

Lofton led the Vols with 20 points, but with 6-foot-9 defensive specialist Marcus Dove guarding him, he was just 5-of-15 shooting from the floor.

UT freshman Ramar Smith tipped away a Cowboys' inbounds pass on the ensuing possession, but JaJuan Smith lost the handle driving in the lane resulting in a pile-up. The alternate-possession arrow favored the Cowboys with the game still tied and 49.2 seconds remaining.

Again, the Vols' defense stiffened. This time, it was Bradshaw with a tipped pass and Duke Crews coming up with the loose ball with 19 seconds left.

Ramar Smith drove with the clock winding down, and when his lay up came off the rim, Bradshaw was there for the game-winning tip.

It was one of 21 offensive rebounds for the Vols, who also won the hustle categories of rebounds (37-35), steals (14-2) and turnovers forced (23-12).

"All those statistics are about effort and attitude,'' said Pearl, whose team won despite having its worst night beyond the 3-point arc, making just 4 of 23 shots (17.4 percent). "We had just enough of the inside-outside thing going.''

Crews enjoyed his biggest performance as a Vol, scoring 17 points and pulling down nine rebounds. Wayne Chism came off the bench to add nine points and six rebounds.

"I can't imagine as a freshman having that much pressure on you, and they answered the bell,'' said Bradshaw, who will undergo an MRI on the injured shoulder that's plagued him since the Preseason NIT Tip-Off. "Duke Crews just really exploded tonight, and they (Crews and Chism) were going against some great guys at Oklahoma State.''

The Cowboys held a 43-37 advantage at the half and didn't surrender the lead until a Bradshaw reverse layup made it 70-69 UT with 6:25 remaining.

Oklahoma State's frustrations boiled over as the team exited through the hall, scuffling with each other before being separated.

"There was a little talking, and coaches broke it up and we went to the locker room,'' Boggan said when asked about the brief altercation.

Boggan, along with Oklahoma State's standout point guard JamesOn Curry, ran into foul trouble in the second half and was forced to sit out more than eight minutes after picking up his fourth foul at the 14:19 mark when Chism drew a whistle.

Curry, who finished with 13 points but also six turnovers, fouled out with 2:48 left after Lofton stole the ball from him under the Vols' basket.

"We cannot be a good team until we learn to box out and protect the ball,'' said Cowboys' coach Sean Sutton, whose team shot 54.5 percent from the floor and made 25 of 32 free throws to the Vols' 19-of-32 at the line. "I think Tennessee is a team that, come March, can really do a lot of damage in the NCAA tournament.''

The Vols' next game is noon Saturday against Texas at Thompson-Boling Arena.