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The Tennessee players were the big attraction, but East Tennessee State's Courtney Pigram was the big star in the Pilot Rocky Top League title game Wednesday night.

Pigram scored a game-high 45 points and hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 20.5 seconds left as HT Group capped a perfect league schedule with a 133-126 win over Ray's ESG at Bearden High School.

A crowd approaching 3,000 packed the gym and more than 100 more were turned away at the doors as the league finished its second season in spectacular fashion.

Pigram, a former Atlantic Sun Player of the Year, said he appreciated the competition and exposure of the PRTL.

"I considered it an honor to play in the league against great competition,'' Pigram said. "This was a challenge, and it put me at another level.''

Pigram hit two buzzer-beaters, in regulation and overtime, to lift HT Group to a win over Ray's earlier this season.

This time the game-winner came after Bobby Maze hit two free throws for Ray's to tie the game at 124-124.

"Courtney came off a screen and hit another shot from 40 feet,'' said Maze, who had 39 points and seven assists. "Of course I'm mad we didn't win, but both teams played well. This is for the fans and the kids, and I'm glad I was able to give them a sneak peek of what's to come.''

Maze looked to tie the game, but Pigram got a hand on his shot leading to a Tyler Smith (37 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists)) transition basket that made it 129-124 with 13.5 seconds left.

Smith was locked in a physical battle with Scotty Hopson (36 points, nine rebounds) throughout the night.

"It was very intense, and Tyler was very tough,'' said Hopson, who had a deep scratch bleeding on his left arm. "He got the best of the situation this time, but we've got some 5-on-5 left in practice, and we'll see what happens there.''

Pigram said he knew what was going to happen next for him after Wednesday's game.

"I'm going to go back to Johnson City tonight and take some more shots in the gym,'' said Pigram, who hit 11 of 12 3-pointers in the teams' first matchup. "A lot of the guys were saying my shots the last time were just luck. I had to show them it wasn't luck.''

Incoming UT freshman Daniel West led HT Group with 10 assists and scored 14 points, and ETSU's Greg Hamlin had 14 points and eight rebounds.

"Courtney is a great player who makes everyone around him better,'' said Hamlin, a transfer from Mott (Mich.) Community College. "I see him do this every day in practice.''

Hamlin said the key to HT Group's undefeated record was its teamwork and drive.

"The Tennessee players on our team played well with us,'' Hamlin said. "We played all our games serious, and everybody wanted to win every game.''

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.