Points produce for UT

Tennessee doesn't have a point-guard controversy. It just had two really good point guards Tuesday night.

And that's a scenario coach Bruce Pearl can live with every game.

Jordan Howell got the start ahead of Ramar Smith and played as well as he ever has in his career in a 109-40 rout of Middle Tennessee State at Thompson-Boling Arena.

Howell, a senior, responded with nine points on 3-of-4 shooting and posted career highs with seven assists and three steals.

Smith scored 12 points on 3-of-4 shooting, had two assists and - like Howell - zero turnovers.

"Together, we got really average point-guard play Friday (against Prairie View),'' said Pearl, "and we got terrific point-guard play tonight from Ramar and Jordan.

Against Prairie View, Smith and Howell combined for five assists and six turnovers - and Smith was 0-for-12 at the free-throw stripe.

"Ramar does respond to coaching and worked incredibly hard this week on changing up his free-throw stroke,'' Pearl said. "The players helped him and I worked with him. He played with purpose and focus tonight.

"And Jordan did a terrific job. He played with confidence. He got the ball to the people that he needed to get it to and he shot the ball well."

Tuesday wasn't the first time Howell has moved into the starting lineup to good effect. He took over for several games last year after Smith struggled early starting as a freshman. When Smith returned to the starting lineup, he was in better control.

"Things happen for a reason," Smith said Tuesday night. "That's my teammate and I want the best for him and he wants the best for me."

Smith was all smiles after going 6-of-7 at the free-throw line to help banish the memory of his embarrassing night against Prairie View.

"I knew I wasn't that bad of a free-throw shooter," he said. "At the same time I got in the gym and worked and kept shooting and it showed tonight."

5 Million: Al Keener of Maryville was recognized as the 5,000,000th fan to attend a men's game at Thompson-Boling Arena. Among other prizes, he won a trip to a Wyndam resort in Orlando, Fla.

Etc.: MTSU's Demetrius Green was runner-up to Chris Lofton for Mr. Basketball in Kentucky. "We had some battles,'' said Lofton, of the former Lexington Catholic star who scored two points Tuesday night. … JaJuan Smith's seven 3-pointers moved him past Greg Bell into seventh place on the UT career list with 173. Smith's cousin, Vincent Yarbrough, is next in his sights with 179. … Pearl credited assistant coach Steve Forbes with an excellent scouting job on the Blue Raiders. "We had a really good feel for what they wanted to do,'' said Pearl. … UT leads the series with MTSU 6-1. Three of the games were decided by five or fewer points but the past two have been UT wins by a combined 100 points. … The 69-point win and a 57-point win over Arkansas-Monticello last week rank on the top five biggest victory margins in school history.