Tennessee Men's Basketball
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Tennessee took over the top spot in the SEC, but not before Mississippi State threw a scare into them.
The No. 7 Vols (19-2, 6-1 SEC) withstood the Bulldogs' furious rally to score a 76-71 victory before a loud and rowdy crowd of 10,150 at Humphrey Coliseum Saturday night.
Chris Lofton led UT with 20 points, but his defensive play against Jamont Gordon in the final seconds was as big as any basket Lofton hit.
The Bulldogs (14-7, 5-2) had pulled to within 74-71 after trailing by as many as 17 in the second half when Gordon came off a pick and squared up to attempt a potential game-tying 3-pointer with five seconds left.
"It was a switch, and I just happened to be the one there on him,'' said Lofton, who's three inches shorter than Gordon. "I was just trying to contest the shot and put a hand up in his face.''
Jordan Howell pulled down Gordon's missed shot and sealed the win with two free throws.
"My seniors are who I want to point out,'' UT coach Bruce Pearl said. "Chris Lofton, JaJuan Smith and Jordan Howell really stepped up big for us. I think that experience was a real factor in this road win.''
No doubt. JaJuan Smith scored 15 points himself and outplayed Gordon throughout most of the game.
Smith spearheaded the defensive effort against the multi-talented Gordon, who scorched UT for 25 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in last year's game.
Gordon finished Saturday's game with his season average of 17 points, but through the first 33 minutes he had five points on 1-of-7 shooting.
The game took a turn with 7:02 remaining when Gordon hit a pair of free throws to cut UT's lead to 62-47.
Duke Crews hit a shot in the lane to re-establish the Vols' biggest lead of the game at 17 points, but Mississippi State was already in attack mode.
The Bulldogs took advantage of Tennessee's foul trouble - Tyler Smith played only 15 minutes and 10 Vols saw double-digit playing minutes - and went on a run.
Mississippi State scored on its next seven possessions. The crowd grew louder with each basket: four consecutive 3-pointers, a Jarvis Varnado dunk, and two more 3-pointers that cut the Vols lead to 73-67 with 2:12 left.
A Gordon free throw made it 73-68 with 1:58 remaining, and when Barry Stewart (21 points) hit a 3-pointer from the corner, UT's lead was down to 73-71 with 39.2 seconds left.
Wayne Chism missed the front end of a 1-and-1 free throw situation with 34.3 seconds left, but Mississippi State squandered its opportunity to tie or go ahead when freshman Riley Benock was called for traveling with 17.2 on the clock.
Howell split a pair of free throws to give the Vols a 74-71 lead before Gordon missed the 3-pointer with Lofton in his face.
"I just felt like it was a struggle all night long with our foul trouble,'' Pearl said. "Tyler gets six shots and plays 15 minutes … when one of your best players is watching most of the game, to have a lead like we did was pretty special.''
So too was Tennessee's rebounding effort. Despite being out-sized, the Vols held a 42-32 advantage on the glass at the end of the night.
"It was a team effort,'' Pearl said. "We don't have a dominant rebounder. That rebounding was a key to the game.''
Chism led the way with six rebounds while JaJuan Smith, Duke Crews and Brian Williams each had five.
The Vols held a 36-27 lead at the half thanks to hot perimeter shooting that saw them hit 8-of-16 from 3-point range.
Mississippi State raced out to an 8-2 lead before UT warmed up. A JaJuan Smith transition layup triggered a 13-2 run that gave the Vols a 16-11 lead.
The Bulldogs regained the lead briefly when Stewart hit a 3-pointer to make it 19-18 at the 8:59 mark.
But then Crews hit a hook shot, Ramar Smith scored on a spectacular reverse layup and Lofton buried a 3-pointer to make it 25-19, and UT led the rest of the half.
The Vols return to action Tuesday at home against two-time defending national champion Florida (18-4, 5-2). Game time is 9 p.m. (TV: ESPN).
Childress Does Not Make Trip: Tennessee junior forward Ryan Childress did not make the trip on account of illness.
Childress, who has been out of UT's nine-man rotation the past two games, has missed the past two practices with flu-like symptoms.
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Comments » 139
johngalt writes:
Whew!!
tino2009 writes:
Go Vols.......
Check Lofton's video
http://youtube.com/watch?v=DuPpsYfY6Kc
10eceeVol4ever writes:
Guess what Airforce1, the game didn't go into overtime, and MSU didn't win by 10, and Tennessee is atop the SEC all alone. Terrible officiating on the road once again.
Go Vols
mdvol writes:
Great win! Crazy 3's by Miss State. We were the far better team. They were just in the zone the last 4 minutes. Duke Crews makes a great difference for us inside.
1bigutfan writes:
Now that will get the juices flowing. This should help us in March.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Ho-hum, had 'em all the way. MSU must have went beserk in the last 3 1/2 mins. Was following it on ESPN gametrack and clicked off with 15 point lead. Man!
Way to go, Vols.
Vols1998 writes:
What is up with ESPN and the Vols? can someone explain why all the negative commentary about UT sports? are they actually that anti-Vols or what? I'm tired of hearing Gameday Football and now Basketball commentators talking down our programs.
Go Vols......it's you against the World!
VolBall writes:
mdvol, I couldn't agree more about Duke Crews. He is so much more physical and quicker off the floor than Chism. But we needed Chism, Williams, and Crews tonight defending the post with all the ticky tack foul calling. There were many times it appeared we did a good job fighting over the postup man on the entry pass, and then the whistle would blow.
A great road win. The last 4 minutes were too interesting.
With the length of the Miss State post players, focusing on perimeter jumpers and crashing the boards (a bit better lately on the boards) seemed to be the better offensive option. It's a good thing that we shot the ball well tonight.
natcross24#581803 writes:
what a game. Crews and Tabb did the little things to win that game.
schymtz writes:
Phewee! Few of us really expected a 2-0 road swing. None of us expected MSU's valient and spectacular last five minutes. But Tennessee so far has all the right stuff! I'll sleep well tonight. Way to go, Vols!
cdldoc#211897 writes:
What is with the officiating in some of these games. We should have won by 25, but oh, there are those officials.
VolBall writes:
I'm glad to see Tabb getting some minutes. He really gobbles up loose balls, has great defensive quickness and is really a contributer in so many ways.
Tyler had a tough night, which makes the win that much more impressive.
JuJuan, as always, made some big plays. He really only shot one bad ball, which was very early into the shot clock with less than 2 minutes to play after we broke the press. It would have been nice to kill 20-25 more seconds in that possession. But, great win!!
bshell12 writes:
I think having Tabb on the floor is more beneficial to the team than J.P. Every time J.P. touches he scares me and he is still a defensive liability especially in transition.
UTfaninYankeeland writes:
Prediction, the Vols get tired of hearing how they are soft on the inside and they go all the way to the final four by beating people on the inside just like the Colts defense shut people up with their D all the way to the SB last year.
Kwitcherbellyachin writes:
"What is up with ESPN and the Vols? can someone explain why all the negative commentary about UT sports? are they actually that anti-Vols or what? I'm tired of hearing Gameday Football and now Basketball commentators talking down our programs."
I didn't watch GameDay... can you cite some examples of today's negative commentary? I've heard nothing but positive about the Vols, especially from most of the ESPN commentators (Freschilla, Gottlieb, etc.)
bmaples writes:
Vols1998 -- I don't know what you are talking about. I listened to the entire game, and I heard nothing that sounded like "talking down." In fact, I heard Tennessee called "one of the premiere programs in the country this year" more than once.
I think the ESPN anti-Vols angle has gotten a life of its own, and is not backed up by the current situation. At one time, yes, I think there was some bad blood on both sides; now, I don't see it.
And by the way -- GREAT WIN VOLS!
rab63 writes:
anybody know what happened to Childress? I didn't see him in the entire game.
snowvol writes:
Vols1998, maybe you've missed a few basketball shows on ESPN over the past few years but the truth of the matter is that ESPN loves UT basketball. Today, the GameDay show picked against us but that's been the rarity.
Jay Bilas has gone on record saying no reason why the Vols can't make the Final Four; Jimmy Dykes loves the Vols; virtually every coach they've had in studio and doing color of our games have raved over both Bruce and the team.
It's way too convenient for Vols fans to lament over ESPN. But, if you listen to them day in and day out not to mention on ESPN Radio, you come to realize UT is one of their favorite basketball programs.
For that matter, throw in Pat and the LV's and last year's great coverage the softball team received -- this whole anti-Vols notion and the idea that ESPN has an agenda against us simply doesn't hold water. Honestly, with all due respect to anyone who thinks that way, it really is time to put an end to the whole ESPN-paranoia.
VolBall writes:
It's awesome to see that hand-in-your-face, lean back three now falling for Lofton. He made some nice dribble drives too. You're right, Plasticman. He is back!!!
KnoxVol_in_TX writes:
Too true...Lofton is back. I am also in total agreement that Tabb is our Ace in the hole.
I have heard mixed things from ESPN commentators. I have reluctantly resigned to the fact that TN is not overly liked by mainstream media. We simply cant let that play into our game.
Go out there, play through adversity and the worst SEC officiating in years and bring home the conference title.
This is our destiny!!!!
UTfaninYankeeland writes:
rab63 Childress didn't make the trip because he is recovering from the flu. He didn't practiced the 2 practices before they left for this game.
tigervol9802 writes:
LOL!!!!! Derogatory comments? Because Bilas said he thought UConn/UT women not playing was bad for the fans during the UCLA/Arizone game? I love you people!!!!!
Nice W. I'll say it's the nicest road win of the year. We were able to beat another team that is a slow donw type of pace.
rbatten9#231828 writes:
J.P. isn't playing team ball imo. I'm glad to have Tabb back playing.
tapeworm writes:
Pearl has has helped his teams at UT develop a mental toughness that has ALWAYS been absent in Tennessee teams. Talent has never been a problem. I'm guessing that he has spent a lot of time consulting w/Pat Summitt, in addition to employing his own set of principles. Win or lose, these guys are always in the game, and that's refreshing.
Hunter writes:
bmaples - they're referring to ESPn GameDay this morning, and I must say I agree. There were NO believers in the Vols on set today - they all picked State as if it were the obvious pick. Maybe beating Florida Tuesday AGAIN on national TV will continue to make believers....
Kwitcherbellyachin writes:
I will have to watch the game again on TiVo, but I certainly remember two horrible calls - the technical on Prince, and the missed player control foul against Gordon in the second half.
VolBall writes:
I love the touhness and character of this team. They are really playing as a unit despite the heavy substitutions throughout games, which obviously keeps fresh legs on the floor. Even with varying personnel and rotations, someone always seems to step up on both ends of the floor when we need a big play.
Williams is showing gradual improvement as SEC play continues. We really need his heft and length the rest of the way.
budd#207344 writes:
We need to get the SEC to assign people to walk the refs to their cars so they are not afraid to call fouls against the home team. One of the most poorly called games I have watched in a long time.
weedbreath writes:
You know that game almost gave me a heart attack, and I am serious about that! But you know that gang of threes did not save them as Gordon missed the one that counted at the end. I am just glad we got out of there with a win! Let's get back home and get ready for Florida.
ps11824 writes:
I love those Smith boys & hats off to Jordy who came up large tonight. I am excited about different guys stepping up to the plate on any given night. They just play so well together. Give credit to a State team coming back from a huge deficit. Gordon was shadowed in the first half keeping him in check. Foul trouble kept us from putting that kind of pressure on him in the 2nd and he just kept on shooting. They started to drop, did the treys, and Stewart was on fire all game long. A great comeback by State but our guys just played good team ball. Nice road win Vols. Now tell me again why we did not go after Gordon. And Stewart right here in our own back door?
Vols1998 writes:
All, I was watching Game Day from UCLA and they specificly said the only reason UT was doing well was because the other SEC teams were doing not as good as last year. Digger actually said that UT was not better that MSU and picked MSU to win big. Another comment was on the RPI and they thought it was a useless tool just because UT was at the Top vs. not having Memphis, KU etc.. I know what I heard. They did not say the Vols were bad, it just was hard to hear the love. There are some commentators that play to the crowd on TV, UT was great tonight, your not going to hear too much bashing when their winning. Do not get me going with ESPN's Football Game Day crew.
Go Vols
nivatne writes:
Vols1998, I agree w/ you 110%. I absolutely HATE ESPN for the way the dog on UT sports. Any FL, AL, or GA football highlight is against UT. Actually, the only way they will use a UT highlight is if we are getting scored against. I have noticed it more now than ever. What a bunch of losers up there in Bristol. They just hate when some good-ole southern boys lay a whippin' on the precious programs they hold so dear to their heart. Seriously, I think they all have a man crush on Urban or Nick. Who knows, may they sleep w/ an Urban Meyer Fathead above their beds
weedbreath writes:
I have gotten to where I don't listen to those idiot Tar Heel and Blue Devil lovers on College Gameday. I seen that too this morning and was loving the thought of it after the game when they were eating those words. I did find it a little starnge that all three of them just picked MS without a bit of hesitation. Oh well, they were wrong!!
harrierncd#500054 writes:
Nice game, fellas. Way to hang in there and close out the win at the end.
As I calmly (just ask my wife) listened to UT lose its 15/16 point lead (Bob Kessling alternately said one or the other), I was confident that Bruce and the team would close out the game. Also, sometime tonight I realized that the men's and women's basketball teams are now the same for me. When either is in a close game, I expect them to win, regardless of the opposition or circumstances. I know that Pat and Bruce will have their teams prepared to play and that they will have the right personnel in the game for success (so long as the right personnel haven't fouled out).
asleep#212036 writes:
Two things that make me very happy. First, Lofton has obviously gotten back on track and that makes us very scary down the road. Second, I didn't realize what a difference Crews makes. Chism is bigger but Crews is much quicker to the ball and to the basket. Road wins are so rare in any conference and I'm very proud of the Vols this week. Beat 'Bama in a rivalry game and took MSU down @ Humphreys - not a common feat. If we get through next week unbeaten, we will probably go to Memphis with only two losses. Who else wouldn't love to beat them by 20 in the Pyramid? Also, most of the "bias" from ESPN seemed to be on the football side and not all that recently. All I have heard from ESPN is that we are clearly the class of the SEC and that BP is nothing short of a miracle worker. Go Vols!!!
redneckerson writes:
Seems like somebody has a career night against the Large Orange every game. That Stewart kid was a 32% 3 pt shooter before tonight. Guess you have to take everybody's best shot when you're at the top.
mattlock writes:
I don't think picking State to win at State in being negative, especially when your heart isn't with the Vols like ours is. I wanted to believe we were going to win before the game, but I would not have been surprised to see us lose. That said, if we blew this game after that big lead, that would have been a HUGE disappointment.
creepykev#228270 writes:
Do you notice that if UT isn't playing on ESPN that day they hardly say anything about us. They only push the teams that are going to on their network that day. Every other team is garbage.
Ironcity writes:
SnowVol is so right. I think I have heard it all tonight on this board. Some of you are mad because ESPN commentators chose agasint us. Heck I picked against us. Teams with big inisde players have given us trouble all year. Instead of getting your feelings hurt appreciate the good coaching that Pearl brings to the table. Yes Miss St is big and physical, yet UT still won. Great game from everyone. I do have one complaint, I think my over 40 basketball team plays a better zone then UT. It was like shooting practice with not a had in anyones face.
james#216392 writes:
Great game to watch. Scarey at the end. Give MSU the credit for hitting some big shots. Great two wins on the road this week. Go Vols
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
1--I'm happy as hell to be wrong twice in a row!!! I don't have video of this game, but from what I read looks like the vols were in control until the final 6 minutes. Maybe some odd fouls???
2--that youtube video of Chris....GREAT!!! If Chris would've played fottball, hw would have been CONDREDGE HOLLOWAY! The balance, the playmaking, the nerves.
Kwitcherbellyachin writes:
What I find encouraging is that we outrebounded both State and Bama these last two games. If that trend continues, and if CL stays hot, we're positioned for a nice postseason run.
redneckerson writes:
Ironcity, rest assured your team doesn't play any part of the game better than UT.
Ironcity writes:
Whats great about UT right now is someone can have an awful game it hadly matters. Foul trouble can be easily overcome by our talented deep bench. I think the rebounding is a product of Duke and all the zones we seem to be seeing of late. We still need to be a little smarter down the streach of games. First Jujuan jacks up the early three and then Chism holds the ball instead of getting it out and passing it down into the corner where Jujuan aws wide open. In Chism's defense he may have thought Jujuan would jack up another ill advised three.
MrBamSeydu writes:
wanna see a funny joke? look at Duke's away schedule this year. they only play 11 total games away out of 32 games, none of which are very scary. yet we get busted on for winning close games on the road. this game wasn't nearly as close as they made it in the final 6 minutes. the ref's in SEC play are horrible. i think we had 393 total fouls and only shot 1 free throw until about 15 min. left in the 2nd half compared to their 17 at that point. the ref's need to stay out of the game. people don't buy tix to watch them control the flow of the game: LET THEM PLAY!!! no blood no foul.
reg_mza#219136 writes:
Observations:
1. Great depth kept the Bulldogs off balance and guessing the whole game as to who would take a shot. That's vital come tourney time so other defenses cannot guess what you're going to do.
2. Loving the 3 ball and glad to see it falling on enemy soil. Some teams just don't shoot as well from 3 land on the road, ie., colder shooting on the road. Glad we're not suffering from that.
3. Glad to see Dukie put up that same energy we're used to...we need it.
4. Give the Dogs credit, they battled back and never gave up. Give us some credit in taking it to them on their own floor and dictating most of the outcome.
5. I'm reading WAY too much talk about bad officiating and ticky tack fouls but let's face it, the Vols are an extremely clingy, aggressive defense and YES those are fouls some times. We just happen to get away with quite a few and get called for just as many. This is a good thing actually because come NCAA tourney time, when we experience refs from other conferences with more conservative officiating, we'll be used to tight foul calling and adjust accordingly. How many times have we seen NCAA games where different refs from other conferences call games different and put some teams with far less depth in foul trouble because that team is not used to such a tight officiated game? Oh I can live with the officiating just fine.
6. We need to get more anticipatory on defense and stop hand checking to the point where ticky tack fouls become our Achilles heel.
7. Lastly, I love irony and it showed in this game. We almost got our attitudes checked big time by the Bulldogs and them doing what we do best, hitting the 3. And we helped seal the game by doing what they do best, defense with Chism blocking Rhodes, I believe, and Jordan grabbing the loose ball.
ggriggs939#223122 writes:
I can understand all the fouls in the AL game because they have the money to throw around. When they spend 5 million to get a coach to beat the VOLS in football, how much would they pay to get the 15 or more fouls on four of the VOLS basketball team.
MSU doesn't seem to have that much money avaikable.
Don't know what incentive the refs had tonight.
budrhon writes:
Disagree about JP, thought he contributed nicely. The tech on him was so bogus because he did the same type dunk in a previous game with opposing players around him. Ticky foul by the Refs. For him to be about himself he would be jacking up ill advised shots which he doesn't. He does what Pearl needs him to do which is drive and penetrate. The Bulldogs interior just happen to reject or alter some of those shots.
Asleep - Memphis plays in the Fedex Forum, not the Pyramid anymore.
JuJuan is so deadly of late that you know he's got ice water running through his veins
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
well the streak continues, never a post-game thread here without more ESPN hates us and the refs screwed us paranoia---u can always count on it---are your guyswho claim we always getting screwed by refs on the road willing to admit others teams get screwed on road against us at TBA as well so it all evens out----noooooooo, I didnt think so------unbelievable this same whinin and paranoia after every game ,win or lose, home or away,football or basketball -- the whole world hates us and is out to get us----but we sure give them a reason to hate us with the incessant whinin and cryin
orangeinmississippi writes:
What a game! Went to the Memphis Grizzlies game, but they did have the game on all the TVS in the concourse area! GOOOOOOOOOO VOOOOLLLLSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bring on those GATORS and Memphis Tigers!!!
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