Big night for Slay: Former Vol scores 45

It was just like old times for former Tennessee fan-favorite Ron Slay Wednesday night.

Slay, fresh off his Italian league season, poured in 45 points and hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to lead First Tennessee to a 131-128 win over SunTrust in Pilot Rocky Top League action.

Im in Knoxville, Im back home and it feels the same as when I played (for UT), said Slay, who scored 16 in a Monday night loss. The first night I was trying to run too many plays; now theyve told me to just score.

Slay averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds in Italys Division I League this season, nearly leading his team to the playoffs.

This league is going to do a lot, plus, it shows us old dogs can still play, Slay said. We want to pass the torch to the young guys.

Duke Crews kidded Slay that it will be age versus talent when the two play against one another Wednesday night.

Slay, every-bit the fast talker Crews is, encouraged Crews to bring it on.

UT coach Bruce Pearl, in attendance to see his son, Steven, play on the SunTrust team, was on his feet applauding Slays clutch efforts.

Ive got to give it up for him, Pearl said. I love having Ron around our guys because he knows how to play the game and he has a great basketball IQ.

Slay said he would have loved to have played for Pearl at UT.

That team has so much intensity and theyre deep, Slay said. Theyve got to be a consensus top-10 team.

East Tennessee States Courtney Pigram scored 31 points for SunTrust, and Ramar Smith, guarded by Josh Tabb, was held to 24.

Worthy No. 1: Tennessee All-American Chris Lofton showed why he was the first pick of the Pilot Rocky Top League draft.

Lofton scored a league-record 48 points to lead Toyota of Knoxville to a 120-110 win over the News Sentinel and into sole possession of first place at 2-0.

Id heard someone on the (News Sentinel) Sports Page show said Chris shoulda been the fifth pick, Toyota of Knoxville coach Rick Campbell said. I left Chris a message on his phone before the game today and told him about it, and said, drop 50 of them tonight, and show them this is still your town.

Tyler Smith, the second pick in the draft, scored 25 points and J.P. Prince added 28 for the News Sentinel.

Toyota of Knoxville played without Dane Bradshaw, who was back home in Memphis preparing to go to Germany next week.

Dane called me and told me I couldnt win without him, Lofton said. I like this league — its just pickup, and its fun.