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PODEBRADY, Czech Republic — The Tennessee men’s basketball team took the BK Sadska Bulls by the horns Friday.

Chris Lofton scored 20 points to lead the Vols to a 113-64 win over the Division I Czech Republic professional team in the opening game of UT’s five-game European Tour.

The Vols play Division II BK Kolin at 6 tonight (noon EDT).

“It was very difficult for us,’’ Bulls coach Charlie Forest said. “They play very good defense and are aggressive and fast.’’

Lofton led seven Vols who scored in double figures. Ryan Childress added 16 points.

“My initial impressions is that our tempo was different for them, and just as it has been effective back home, this team had never seen anything like it,’’ UT coach Bruce Pearl said. “We had very unselfish play with most everyone in double figures, but our free-throw shooting, drop-back defense and rebounding still needs work.’’

The Vols made 25 of 38 free throws (.657) after shooting a collective .582 in Pilot Rocky Top League action over the summer.

BK Sadska, which plays in a wood-paneled gym some 35 miles outside of Prague in the Czech Republic countryside, had the size to match up with UT but not the athleticism.

The Vols forced approximately 20 turnovers with an effective press and a new zone defense.

“We worked the new defense for the first time in the second quarter, and it was pretty effective,’’ Pearl said. “The defense is a combination of man-to-man and zone, and it’s something Coach (Pat) Summitt and I have been talking about.

“We’re looking at it for next season — not this season — when the new 3-point shooting line comes into effect.”

Pearl said he’ll experiment with Lofton playing some point guard in today’s game and Duke Crews working at small forward.

“The guys all played their standard positions today,’’ Pearl said. “I was impressed with Josh Tabb. He just makes us better with his physicality and defense, and Steven Pearl picked us up with his intensity.’’

Tabb scored 13 points while Pearl had 12 points and seven rebounds.

“I thought we played OK, but not great,’’ Lofton said. “I missed some open shots I should have made.

“I thought Pearl and Tanner (Wild) played real good and did some things that don’t show up in the box(score) — they made some hustle plays.’’

Wild, a walk-on, said the 10 minutes he played against the Bulls ranks among his career highlights.

“It’s my second favorite moment behind the shot I hit against Long Beach State with about a minute-and-a-half left last year,’’ Wild said. “It was a lot different playing with the guys than against them on the scout team. It was just a great experience, and it makes me feel a lot better about myself.’’

Both Pearl and Wild figure to have a hard time getting playing time this season with the addition of sophomore transfers Tyler Smith and J.P. Prince and freshman signees Cameron Tatum and Brian Williams.

The new additions to the team were not allowed, by NCAA rule, to make the trip to Europe.

Early on it appeared the Vols would need all 10 bodies they’ve brought on the trip — and then some — as the team quickly picked up fouls in the tightly officiated game.

The Bulls took an early 4-0 lead over UT before the crowd of about 200, but the Vols recovered with a 21-3 run in the opening 10-minute quarter, and added another 21-3 run in the second quarter to go up 54-18 on a Wayne Chism basket with 5:18 left in the half.

The Vols led 60-31 at the half and steadily pulled further away as the game progressed.

The BK Sadska team finished 11th in the 12-team first division in the Czech Republic and has been in training for the upcoming season for one week.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.