Tennessee scored 105 points, hit a school-record 16 3-pointers and won its eighth consecutive game en route to its best SEC start in nearly 30 years.

Bruce Pearl’s reaction?

"Very disappointed in our play in the second half,’’ said UT’s first-year coach. "That’s as bad as it has been.’’

Still, it was good enough for the No. 8 Vols in a 105-89 win over Auburn on Wednesday night before a crowd of 17,814 at Thompson-Boling Arena. UT (19-3, 10-1 SEC) continues to lead the SEC East by two games over Florida and the Vols lead LSU by one game for the SEC regular-season title.

Tennessee’s SEC start matched the 1976-77 Vols, who finished 16-2 and tied for first in the conference standings.

Pearl’s nit-picking aside, UT exhibited a fluid offense en route to converting 16 of 29 3-pointers and having six players score in double figures for the first time this season and give the Vols eight consecutive SEC victories.

Chris Lofton led Tennessee in scoring for the third consecutive game, pouring in 22 of his game-high 25 points in the second half. In doing so, Lofton continued his tear from beyond the 3-point arc, knocking down 7 of 11 attempts. Lofton has connected on 23 of 33 (.697) 3-pointers over the past three games.

"I’ve never seen anybody have this kind of run like Chris,’’ Pearl said. "Tonight, they were open looks. I was worried ? he’s better when they’re guarding them.’’

The Vols jumped out to an 8-0 lead, and moments later, Dane Bradshaw hit his first 3-pointer in eight games (ending a string of 11 misses) to spark a 10-0 run that put UT up 20-5.

The Vols closed the half on a 7-0 run to take a 42-25 lead into intermission.

Even though the Tigers never drew closer than 14 in the second half, Pearl said UT was too loose on defense.

Auburn (10-12, 2-9) opened the final 20 minutes hitting five of its first six shots and wound up shooting 66.7 percent in the second half. The Tigers, led by Ronny LeMelle’s 19 points, scored 64 in the second half — the most UT has surrendered in a half this season.

"Coach was pretty mad because our defense wasn’t where it was supposed to be,’’ said UT’s C.J. Watson, who had 18 points and dished out a season-high eight assists.

Never mind that Pearl called off UT’s press with 10 minutes left, and that the Vols’ 63 points over the final 20 minutes were their most in a half this season.

Pearl made sure his players knew he was disappointed in their play.

"I was kind of mad, too, because we have to take pride in our defense,’’ said UT’s Andre Patterson, who scored 11 of his 15 points in the first half. "We can’t win a championship without rebounding and defense.’’

Patterson said part of the reason he didn’t get as many rebounds in the second half was because Lofton and JaJuan Smith weren’t missing much.

Indeed, in addition to Lofton’s offensive onslaught, Smith scored a career-high 19 points — 16 in the second half.

Major Wingate scored 12 points and Stanley Asumnu added 10 for Tennessee.

"Tonight was one of those nights anyone could throw it in,’’ Patterson said. "It was like throwing rocks in the ocean.’’

And like a rolling stone, the Vols continued to gain momentum, second-half defensive letdown be damned.

UT will need the momentum: heading to Tuscaloosa Saturday, the Vols have lost six straight to the Crimson Tide with their last win on Jan. 9, 2001.

Record Breakers: UT’s previous school record for 3-pointers in a game was 15, set against South Florida in 1999 and Tennessee Tech in 1988.

The Vols 15-game homecourt win streak is the longest active streak in the SEC. UT’s record for most consecutive home wins is 33, set from Jan. 3, 1966 to Feb. 24, 1968.

Lofton Often: Lofton was 2-for-2 from the free throw line, making him 24-of-24 in SEC play. On the season, Lofton is 39-of-42 (.928).

Lofton doesn’t qualify to rank among the national or SEC leaders because they require an average of 2.5 free throws converted per game.

Orange Slices: The Vols have made at least 10 3-pointers in three consecutive games, going 36-for-79 beyond the arc (.456) over the past three contests. ? The 25 points Auburn scored in the first half matched a season-low for a Vol opponent (Louisiana-Lafayette, Nov. 20). ? Bradshaw’s two 3-pointers matched his career high. ? UT’s 105 points were the most it has scored in an SEC game since scoring 110 against Georgia on Feb. 9, 2000 and its second-most this season; the Vols scored 106 in their season opener against East Tennessee State ? Wingate was whistled for a technical foul for slapping the backboard after a dunk.