Vols start off on hot streak

And, what an exhibition of talent.

And, what an exhibition of inexperience.

The Vols, featuring six new scholarship players, scored a 126-66 Halloween Night victory over Division II LeMoyne-Owen College at Thompson-Boling Arena

JaJuan Smith’s 22 points led seven UT players scoring in double figures. Wayne Chism and Tony Passley each scored 17, Ramar Smith and Duke Crews had 12 apiece, Ryan Childress had 11 and Chris Lofton 10.

UT hit its first 18 shots from the floor to build a 44-16 lead before finally missing at the 10:34 mark of the first half. By the time intermission rolled around, it was 76-29 with UT posting an 80.6 shooting percentage from the floor.

The Vols weren’t as impressive in the second half. UT’s shooting percentage dropped to 57.6 percent, the team’s half-court game appeared somewhat disjointed and the Vols’ hardly resembled a team on the verge of repeating as SEC East Division champions in outscoring the overmatched Magicians 50-37 in the second half.

The difference?

"We didn’t press at all in the second half, so we got no offense from our defense,’’ said UT coach Bruce Pearl, whose team forced 13 of its 23 turnovers in the first half. "We played less than 10 minutes of full-court pressure. The players saw the press work when we put it on.’’

While the 6,344 fans in attendance saw promise in this talented, young Vols’ team, they also saw that UT’s 3-point shooting, free-throw shooting and rebounding must improve.

The Vols made 24 of 40 free throws (60 percent) while holding a 42-36 rebounding advantage over undersized and out-manned LeMoyne-Owen.

"It (rebounding) is a big problem for us this year,’’ said Pearl, who has just three scholarship players on his roster taller than 6-foot-5. "We’ll have to expose guys in the film room who don’t check out.’’

As for the free-throw shooting, Pearl said the team has shot between 60 and 70 percent in the preseason.

"It’s not satisfactory at all,’’ Pearl said. "We need to shoot well above 70 percent, so it’s an issue. It will improve.’’

Still, the 126 points represent a school record for most points in a game, surpassing the high set in a 121-42 win over Mexico on Jan. 24, 1966.

JaJuan Smith said taking the press off was a definitive factor in the offensive drop off.

"We’ve been coached to press all 94 feet,’’ he said. "Then when they break it off, people don’t do what they’ve been taught to do.’’

Chism, at 6-9 the tallest player on the team, said he’s more comfortable with the faster pace.

"It felt good to press,’’ said Chism, who led the Vols with six rebounds. "I was comfortable playing at that tempo.’’

Chism also was comfortable in orange and white.

"It feels so good, coming in playing and putting on this jersey,’’ Chism said. "I’ve been waiting for this all my life.’’

The Vols finish their exhibition season against Tusculum at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Thompson-Boling Arena before opening the regular season at home against Middle Tennessee State on Nov. 10.

Scoring Points: Pearl was pleased with point guards Ramar Smith and Marques Johnson.

"Marques did not have a turnover,’’ Pearl said. "I thought they both played pretty well. Ramar played better defensively.’’

In addition to 12 points, Ramar Smith had two rebounds, two assists, two turnovers and a steal in 21 minutes. Johnson had seven points, two rebounds, four assists, no turnovers and two steals.

Howell Out: Pearl said the broken bone in Jordan Howell’s hand is healing slowly and he remains questionable for Friday night’s exhibition.

"Worse than anything, I feel badly for Jordan because he’s been waiting a few years for C.J. (Watson) to graduate,’’ Pearl said. "But as a result of the injury, it’s getting more repetitions for Marques and Ramar.’’

Left Out: Freshman Josh Tabb was the only player to see action and not score, going 0-for-3 from the floor. Tabb, however, played the stingy defense he’s fast becoming known for while pulling down five rebounds, dishing out five assists with just one turnover.

Calling Lofton: Lofton shot just four times, making two baskets and hitting on 5 of 6 free throws.

"Chris drove, got to the foul line a little bit, and he also passed up a bunch of shots,’’ Pearl said. "I think Chris was glad to get the other guys a lot of minutes.’’

Great Dane: Dane Bradshaw scored just three points on 1-of-3 shooting, but he showed up everywhere else in the box score, tying team highs in assists (5), steals (4) and blocked shots (1).

The Duke: Freshman Duke Crews scored 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting but had just three rebounds and one blocked shot. Crews’ final points came on the first basket of the second half and he didn’t attempt a shot after that.

Orange Slices: The Oct. 31 start represented the earliest in UT history ? UT improved to 50-16 all-time in exhibition games, 41-8 in home exhibitions and has won 27 of its past 29 exhibition games ? The Vols won their exhibitions last season 86-78 over Southern Indiana and 106-73 over Carson-Newman.