As Thompson-Boling Arena was slowly filling up Wednesday night, proud papa Rex Howell was asked what might be a best-case scenario for the basketball game to come.

"Number 15 hits a shot at the buzzer to win the game,’’ said Howell.

Good answer, dad.

Number 15 for Tennessee was Jordan Howell.

Number 15 for Auburn was Brett Howell.

Every other game of their college career has been a verse of "Oh, brother, where art thou?"

Lexington? Gainesville? Tuscaloosa?

For this night, the brothers Howell of Auburn, Ala., were in the same gym.

For a total of 5 minutes and 16 seconds in three different segments, they were on the same court, occasionally guarding each other.

There was no game-winning shot for either No. 15 to hit. The Vols, as expected, won handily, 105-89.

Howell vs. Howell was the first battle of SEC brothers since G.G. Smith of Georgia and Saul Smith of Kentucky went at each other in 1998 and 1999.

In fact, I can’t come up with another brother vs. brother duel in my years trouping around the league.

For the record, mom was a nervous wreck.

"It’s sort of like having a baby,’’ Wanda Howell said. "You’re excited about it happening, but then when the time comes to have it ?"

She keeps a notebook during the game to record her sons’ stats, the better to contribute intelligently in the post-game family huddle.

Her book this night showed Brett got the better of it, stat-wise.

Older by two years and shorter by two inches, Brett played a season-high 18 minutes. He scored four points, sinking a 3-point shot and adding a free throw.

Jordan has had better nights than this: 7 minutes, 0-for-1 shooting, an assist, a steal, a turnover and two fouls.

The turnover was a long sideline pass that was caught by Bruce Pearl, who was not an eligible (nor a happy) receiver.

"Jordan was a little uptight playing against his brother,’’ Rex said.

"But one played well and the other one won the game. I guess everybody won.’’

Jordan, like mom, was relieved the event was over.

Dinner Tuesday night at a Chinese restaurant on Kingston Pike went down easy, but lacing up sneakers against his brother was tense.

"It was really a lose-lose situation,’’ he said. "You want him to do well but you want to win and you want to do well.

"It was tough.’’

Not to Brett.

"I enjoyed it,’’ he said. "It’s a basketball game. If we did it every night, I’d love it.’’

They didn’t get to do it last year. When UT visited Auburn, Brett was suffering from mono and quarantined away from the team. Jordan, a redshirt freshman, never left the bench, another frustrating night in a frustrating season.

Given a fresh start under Pearl, he has emerged as a generally dependable backup to point guard C.J. Watson.

Brett has battled injuries and only in the past two weeks started getting significant minutes.

The original No. 15 was Rex. He played alongside brother Alex at Auburn in the 1960s. Growing up in Auburn, his sons were ball boys for the Tigers and later teammates for two years at Auburn High School.

Rex built a shooting gym next to the house, but the shooting tended to escalate into something more.

"The gym wasn’t really made for going one-on-one,’’ said Brett, "but it would get so intense you might get thrown into a wall.’’

Jordan wanted to escape the Auburn umbrella, the result being thousands of miles logged on the family car. Rex and Wanda have missed only one game this season.

But for one anxious, exciting night, their sons’ paths converged. Now all that’s left is to talk the trash.

So who gets to talk it?

"He probably won the one-on-one battle,’’ said Jordan, "but we won and that’s the only thing we care about so I’m definitely going to say me.’’

Brett didn’t argue.

"The victory is what matters,’’ he said. "He won the ballgame.’’

There will be another chapter next year in Auburn. Wanda Howell can hardly wait.

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knews.com.