Dodging a Belmont

Photo by Amy Smotherman Burgess

UT's Bobby Maze gets to the basket over Belmont's Jon House during a game at Thompson Boling Arena on Saturday. Tennessee won the game 79-77.

Tennessee made it 36 home wins in a row — barely.

The Vols held off upset-minded Belmont 79-77 Saturday afternoon in a nip-and-tuck battle at Thompson-Boling Arena.

“I take this as a win against a team that will be in the NCAA tournament,’’ UT coach Bruce Pearl said. “It was a solidly played game.’’

Tyler Smith led the No. 16 Vols (8-2) with 23 points and had eight rebounds while Wayne Chism came up big with 12 rebounds.

But Belmont guard Alex Renfroe was the story of the game, scoring 30 points in what at times seemed unstoppable fashion.

Point guard Bobby Maze has been considered one of UT’s top defenders throughout the season, but on this day, Renfroe left Maze in his tracks with lightning-quick drives to the basket for the Bruins (4-4).

“Renfroe played a little bit like (Davidson All-American Stephen) Curry,’’ Pearl said, comparing the Bruins to Davidson’s Top 25 program. “What an amazing effort from Renfroe; athletically, he’s very gifted.’’

Pearl said Renfroe’s success against Maze left the UT point guard in a daze near the end of regulation; Maze missed three of four free throws in the final 28.1 seconds with the Vols desperately holding on by a basket.

“That (Maze) is your point guard, that’s who you want on the line,’’ Pearl said. “He missed them this time, he’ll make them next time. He’ll prepare for that moment.

“Did Renfroe’s 30 points in 31 minutes have something to do with Bobby’s confidence? I think it did, but he can’t let that bother him.’’

Meanwhile, the Vols did their best to bother Renfroe each trip down the floor, leading to a cumulative effect that resulted in the Belmont star missing two of three free throws in the final eight seconds before intentionally missing his final free throw with his team down two and 1.3 seconds left on the clock.

As effective as Renfroe was, the Bruins leading scorer, Andy Wicke, was not. Cameron Tatum and freshman Scotty Hopson combined to hold Wicke scoreless after he entered the game averaging 14 points per contest.

Hopson enjoyed his finest moment as a Vol to this point at the 9:36 mark when he stole the ball from Wicke and converted with a reverse dunk that tied the score at 58-58 with 9:36 left and brought down a house filled with 21, 314 fans.

Belmont, which defeated Alabama and Cincinnati on the road last season, opened the second half on a 10-0 run to take a 50-44 lead. The Vols didn’t take the lead for good until Tatum hit a 3-pointer with 6:03 left to make it 68-65.

“Scotty’s play was really good,’’ said Chism, who was doubled down low most of the game and earned praise from Pearl for his poise. “But Scotty needs to get a new dunk; that one is starting to get old.’’

Perhaps, but the Vols’ home court win streak remains fresh — barely.

UT breaks for the holidays before resuming the season Dec. 29 at home against Louisiana-Lafayette at 7:30 p.m.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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