Sing along at home: 16-0

Vols start fast, drop Gators in front of 24,047

By MIKE GRIFFITH, knsgriff@aol.com

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Tennessee saved its finest win of the season for its home finale, holding off No. 5 Florida for an 86-76 victory Tuesday night.

Chris Lofton scored a game-high 21 points before a near-capacity crowd of 24,047, the seventh largest in the history of Thompson-Boling Arena.

The Vols (21-9, 9-6 SEC) closed the season 16-0 at home.

"Tonight was very significant because we added to the history of Tennessee basketball,’’ said UT coach Bruce Pearl, who is 29-2 in home games and 9-4 against Top 25 teams in two seasons with the Vols. "Folks got to look in at Tennessee (via ESPN’s telecast) and see a lot of fun going on.’’

It’s the first time since the 1975-76 team was 13-0 at Stokely Athletics Center that UT has gone undefeated at home and the 14th time in school history the Vols have recorded the achievement. UT’s 16 home wins match the school record for most in a season.

"This ranks at the top because we beat the defending (national) champs,’’ said UT junior JaJuan Smith, who scored 16 points. "You can’t ask for a bigger win at this point of the season.’’

With Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt wearing a cheerleader’s outfit and singing "Rocky Top" to a packed house that included Super Bowl MVP and former University of Tennessee quarterback Pey-ton Man-ning, the Vols ran out to a 50-31 halftime lead over the Gators (25-5, 12-3).

UT opened the second half on an 8-0 run, capped by Dane Bradshaw’s 3-pointer from the corner that made it 58-31 with 16:18 left for the Vols’ biggest lead.

Bradshaw, who was honored on Senior Night, received a $100,000 scholarship endowment from Pearl and his wife, Kim.

Bradshaw scored 10 points on 3-of-3 shooting from the field and recorded team-highs with six rebounds, five assists and two steals.

"It was very special the way the crowd embraced me,’’ said Bradshaw, who left the game to a standing ovation with 20.1 seconds left, "because ‘slump’ is an understatement for the way I’ve been shooting lately. I’m just happy to get going again.’’

Florida didn’t score in the second half until Corey Brewer drove the lane to make it 58-33 with 16:05 left.

Moments later, the Gators showed why they’re SEC regular-season champs, going on a 21-4 run to pull to 69-61 on a pair of Walter Hodge free throws with 6:08 remaining.

"It was like ‘uh-oh,’ " Lofton said. "Anything could happen.’’

Instead, Lofton made something happen, calling his own number and driving to the basket for a lay-in that sparked a 6-0 UT run.

Ramar Smith and Wayne Chism capped the burst with two free throws apiece in one-and-one situations. Chism’s two free throws made it 75-61 with 4:53 left.

Florida didn’t draw closer than nine for the game’s remainder, despite UT hitting just 8 of 14 free throws over the final two minutes.

Al Horford led Florida with 17 points while former Maryville High School standout Lee Humphrey scored nine on 3-of-8 shooting.

Florida’s Joakim Noah had eight points and 11 rebounds, but also committed three turnovers. Brewer and Taurean Green also had trouble maintaining possession, turning the ball over seven and five times, respectively.

"Me and Josh Tabb basically double-teamed (Green),’’ JaJuan Smith said. "I told Ramar a little bit about guarding Corey, and he was just up into him.’’

The Vols’ win avenges a 94-78 setback at then-No. 1 Florida on Feb. 1 that was UT’s sixth loss in eight games.

Lofton, who was sidelined for four games, returned after the loss to the Gators. Since then, the Vols have won six of their past seven and have erased any doubt of receiving an NCAA tournament bid.

Florida coach Billy Donovan, whose team has lost three of its past four, said he’s not ready to push the panic button.

"I think our team is in a no-win situation right now,’’ said Donovan, who is 1-3 against Pearl. "If we had won every game, the questions would have been: ‘Do you think a loss is good for this team?’

"It’s a no-win situation because people want great drama.’’

Lofton said he just wants another victory at Georgia in Saturday’s 4 p.m. game (TV: WVLT).

"This is our last SEC game, and we want to win that one, too,’’ said Lofton, who had four assists. "The sky is the limit. We just have to stay hungry.’’