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Tennessee fans cheer on the Vols during the final minutes of the game against San Diego State at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, R.I. during Round 1 of the NCAA Basketball Championship Thursday, Mar. 18, 2010.
Men's Bracket
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Deep into the night, down to the final seconds, Tennessee found a way to advance in the NCAA tournament.
The Vols came out on top in a 62-59 slugfest over San Diego State (25-9) in a first-round game that spilled into early Friday morning at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.
UT senior Wayne Chism hit a pair of free throws with 7.4 seconds left and San Diego State star Kawhi Leonard missed a trey at the buzzer.
“The way we won was the way we’ve been winning all year,’’ UT coach Bruce Pearl said. “We were very resilient.’’
Sixth-seeded Tennessee (26-8) advances to play Mid-American Conference tourney champ Ohio (22-14) at approximately 3:30 p.m. (TV: WVLT) Saturday.
The Bobcats defeated Georgetown 97-83 earlier Thursday, marking only the 15th time that a 14th-seeded team has defeated a No. 3 seed since the NCAA tournament expanded from 48 teams in 1985.
Melvin Goins was the Vols’ X-factor on offense, coming off the bench to score a career-high 15 points, including a 3-pointer with 14 seconds remaining that gave UT a 60-56 lead.
“Coach (Pearl) was hollering ‘stick, stick, stick,’ so that gave me the confidence to catch it and shoot it,’’ said Goins, who made 4 of 5 shots beyond the 3-point arc. “I felt like I needed to step up for us to have a chance to advance.’’
J.P. Prince added 15 points for the Vols, while Bobby Maze and Chism each had 11 points.
Prince’s heroics were as much at the defensive end, as he held Leonard to 12 points on 5-of-15 shooting while also pulling down six rebounds.
“J.P. was absolutely outstanding,’’ Pearl said. “Leonard is like Dennis Rodman; he’s such a talented player and tough player, but J.P. Is a tough kid, too, and that toughness doesn’t get enough attention.’’
D.J. Gay answered Goins trey with three free throws en route to his 16 points, and Kelvin Davis added 11.
San Diego State had won five straight entering the game, and the Aztecs rowdy crowd was behind them when Malcolm Thomas scored at the 9:20 mark to put SDSU up 45-44. It was the Aztecs first lead since 6:25 of the first half when they were up 21-20.
The Vols went back ahead 46-45 on their next trip down the court on a pair of Prince free throws with 9:01 left and didn’t trail again.
It wasn’t until after the final buzzer that the UT players were able to wish Pearl a happy 50th birthday, albeit technically a day late.
“When I woke up this morning, I thought to say something to him,’’ Maze said. “But then I realize the only way to give him his praise was to win this game.
“Now that we’ve done that, we can say Happy Birthday.’’
The 500 or so Vols’ fans in attendance sang the Happy Birthday song to Pearl as UT exited the court.
The Vols had held a seemingly comfortable 34-26 lead at the half as Prince scored 11 of his points through the first 20 minutes.
In addition to holding Leonard to 3-of-9 shooting in the first half, Prince was shooting 5 of 7 from the floor himself.
The teams traded the lead 11 times before the Vols took the lead into intermission, closing the first half on a 7-2 run on a Goins’ 3-pointer and two baskets from Prince.
The last time the Vols advanced past the first round of the NCAA trournament they advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2008 before being eliminated by Louisville.
UT was knocked out in the first round last year by Oklahoma State, 77-75.
© 2010, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 219
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Sweet!
wags32 writes:
Good game! i did not watch the Ohio game wonder if we match well with them?
TNvalleyVOL writes:
Make your run CBP! Senior leadership won this one...GoVols
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Man, those Aztecs were tall and big on the inside. Vols looked OK at times but could never pull away. We'll find out tomorrow who they play on Saturday.
volpreacher writes:
Way to go Vols! And the experts said what? The Vols can advance to Sweet Sixteen if they will play ball Saturday. By the way, IMO, that was a bogus call on Goins on the three point foul.
hodocka writes:
Wow, Goins saved us tonight. Turnovers at the end almost cost us the game. SURVIVE AND MOVE ON!
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Sorry, you are right. It's Ohio Saturday.
Plasticman writes:
I hope this team picks it up a notch. If they do, they can get to the Elite 8 or beyond. Not sure why we didn't play a zone against SDSU. They killed us in the paint.
dvhill100 writes:
Great job! Watched it live in Africa.
vol4tnfan writes:
Glad we could hold out...a win is a win is a win
bryanvolsfan writes:
GREAT WIN!!! even though the "foul" on the 3 was PATHETIC!!! ELITE 8 maybe
SATCHMOE writes:
GO VOLS Got to be stronger inside to beat Ohio...good game
BigOrangeInCarolina writes:
Hopefully, Ohio is spent. It took alot to beat Georgetown the way they did. Even if they are, the Vols had better strap it on Saturday, because nobody is going to cower to them. They're gonna get the 'A' game from everybody. Ask anybody from Vandy or Villanova.
agohn writes:
Nice win boys! Let's take care of Ohio then pay back Ohio State for that sweet 16 loss 2 years ago. Go Vols!!
huntined#565710 writes:
They play OHIO
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
That was actually a very exciting game. Good to be still talking about the team still alive. At least we aren't Gator fans,,,,,hahahahaaha.
Talk about the 1st round upsets on day 1!
sidwalkvol writes:
ATTENTION GVX--THE BASKETVOLS ARE IN THE DANCE!! WHY GIVE ALL THE LEAD STORIES TO SPRING FOOTBALL? THERE IS TIME FOR THAT. NOW IS THE MADNESS!!!!
LittleJohnny writes:
I will take a wild guess and say they play Ohio Bobcats.
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Hey.....
Let's have both!
BillyVol writes:
wtg vols. We are proud of you.
huntined#565710 writes:
Now that would be nice..
fpcoach writes:
Survive and advance baby. Very workmanlike effort. Didn't play great, too many missed layups, but you know what, we play the university of ohio saturday with a great opportunity to go to the sweet sixteen.
5 double digit seeds advanced today and i am very happy with the "w". GBO
ClockworkOrange writes:
!!!!YEEEEEE HAAAAAAAW!!!!
Finally we can get ready for Georgetown er, OHIO! Sweet Sixteen Bound! Hey Seth Davis, I ve got something for you. It's shaped like a middle finger!
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Dang guys I said sorry I know it's Ohio like 3 posts later...
Plasticman writes:
Ohio hit 13 threes against Georgetown. Hopefully our length and athleticism will shut them down with our man to man D.
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
Things are shaping up well for a good run with Ohio winning. Good thing Scotty brought his "A" game tonight, we could really use his "A+" game Sat. Way to go Vols!
Plasticman writes:
What happened to the "Coach of the Year" Mr. Stallings and his team?? Oh, yeah, they lost to Murray St. Good job coach!
fpcoach writes:
I second that gesture.
ClockworkOrange writes:
Next Up: Vols as the Ohio state tournament champs!!! Am I right or am I right Volfans???!!
spacehistorian writes:
A very tough game but in the end the guys pulled out a victory. Now we face an upstart Ohio team that stunned Georgetown. The guys on ESPN News seem to think we are Sweet 16 bound but let's take Ohio seriously and not overlook them as I don't want to be another upset win for the Bobcats. This could be a great run if we stay focused. GBO!
vol4tnfan writes:
Do you mind if I ask: in the service there, live there, or work there...a whole different place on earth isn't it?
volpreacher writes:
You know, some of you guys are pathetic. We won!!!!! Look at how many low seeds won today. Everyone is good in this tournament. UT didn't play their best, but they won. So get off the kids backs and just be glad they won. I thought CBP did an excellent job coaching tonight too.
huntined#565710 writes:
Wonder why they didn't pick the OTHER 11 SEEDS THAT WON TODAY!! They don't know jack they are no better picking winners then anyone else that watches the games. They just get BIG BUCKS for acting like they know something..
voodoovol writes:
I wonder how Seth Davis likes his crow cooked?
SATCHMOE writes:
your right 13 threes but how many came off the offensive rebounds.We will have to play a complete game
Lostvolinhighweeds writes:
Loved it!
NPBA!
No
Pearl
Bashers
Allowed!
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
Ditto to that! The Vols are going to surprise alot of people. Ohhhh sooooo ugly but they usually find someway to get the W. GBO!!!!!!
volsn3 writes:
Lucky, but I'll take it....I wish I had the chance like Chism to kick the !@#$ out of them sometimes...why even contest a 3 point shot under ten seconds...and please tell me why Williams refuses to dunk the ball inside...more zone would have been nice to see at times when they were pounding the ball inside on the VOLS...Go after Ohio with everything you got...It can happen....I feel it.
ClockworkOrange writes:
Georgetown, Notre Dame-- LOSERS. 'Nova barely not LOSERS
BIG LEAST not so tough. I know the SEC was down, but we didn't get the love showered on our league like the little East. They got 8 freakin' teams in and at higher than deserved seeds. Vindication is sweet, ain't it VOLFANS??
oh by the way .....FLORIDA LOST !!!
vol_4_fan writes:
Well said! CBP and the basketball Vols deserve better! Go Vols
ClockworkOrange writes:
It's cool cause we've got a lower seeded opponent in the second round than Kansas and Kentucky. As the Moody Blues sang.."Isn't life strange..."
tenuscvol writes:
Lemme Guess.....Ohio?
Lostvolinhighweeds writes:
Grovel, Dude, grovel!
You and Seth!
Ronaldo09 writes:
Thanx Seth Davis for the extra motivation. Ohio is VERY good - they hit everything against GTOWN. No way we let up 97 points against them though....
ClockworkOrange writes:
Yea I believe that we all could care less about the minutae of spring football for a team that will have a losing record this year. Put BBall front and center GV.com!!
MOOREVOLS writes:
And Vandy lost!!! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!!! I love it.
We had a bunch of bad turnovers, especially at the end and a number of silly fouls, but I'll take a win like this over a loss any day. We can beat Ohio if we play good defense and cut down on the silly mistakes (we need to make a few shots around the basket for a change too).
Go Big Orange.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
i hope you being sarcastic about SH bringing his A game---if that is it then its not much
this was an uninpired ,sloppy win --airballs and no finishing in close and beat on the boards----good shooting by Goins though-------we are a loser against an inspired Ohio team if we dont play a lot better than tonite----how many times have we fouled 3 pt shooters in the final minute this year---these guys are slow learners and stuff like that gets your beat in tourneys
its a win but hardly impressive
vol4tnfan writes:
Taterhead & BOK must have went to bed early, otherwise I'm sure they would be posting their congratulations to the Vols right about now!!
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
you haters who cant even root for SEC teams in the tourney are just sick
MOOREVOLS writes:
It was a sloppy win, but this team played hard, no question. Silly at times, but no doubt that they played hard. Uninspired is not a good description at all.
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