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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- The blowouts are over for Tennessee.
"It's the Southeastern Conference," center C.J. Black said
Wednesday night after the Volunteers (No. 13 ESPN/USA Today, No. 15 AP) opened league play with a 60-52 victory over South Carolina . "It's going to be this way every night."
The Volunteers (13-1) continued their best start in 55 years as
Vincent Yarbrough scored 12 of his 18 points in the second half.
But the Vols had beaten their opponents by an average of 20 points
so far this season, including a 72-46 dunk-a-thon over Radford this
past Sunday.
But they needed Yarbrough, their leading scorer, to shake off
his first-half rust and heat up in the second half against
surprising South Carolina.
Yarbrough, a lanky 6-foot-7 sophomore, broke a 46-all tie with
one basket and increased the lead to 52-46 with another floater.
And when he wasn't scoring, he was passing as he hit Isiah Victor
to make it 54-46.
"This team has a lot of players who can score and make plays,"
Yarbrough said. "Tonight, it was my turn. Next game, it will be
someone else."
South Carolina (8-5), which has won as many games as it had
during last year's 8-21 season, went more than six minutes without
a basket after Damien Kinloch tied it 46-46 with 7:38 to go.
The victory continues Tennessee's best start since the 1944-45
season, which opened 12-1. But things will only get more difficult
in the conference as the Volunteers were held to their lowest point
total and tied their fewest 3-pointers (five) this season.
"I think it's because everybody (in the SEC) keeps up with each
other so well," Tennessee coach Jerry Green said. "It's intense
and aggressive especially when you're playing in your own league."
Star point guard Tony Harris scored 12 points, but was only
1-of-3 in the second half for Tennessee. He said that he tried to
stay out of the way once Yarbrough found his scoring touch.
"We knew we had to keep feeding him," Harris said.
Antonio Grant and Marius Petravicius led South Carolina with 12
points each.
South Carolina worked its way back from a six-point deficit in
the second half, but points were hard to come by for both teams
after the game's final tie.
Chuck Eidson had two straight turnovers with the Gamecocks
trying for the lead.
"Give them credit, they didn't crack or fold," South Carolina
coach Eddie Fogler said.
Harris said the Volunteers have been through these physical,
nail-biting games before, no matter how many routs they have posted
this season.
"We know what it takes to pull these out," he said. "It's a
good statement to make early that we can fight through thinks."
Harris' shooting kept the Volunteers out front as they struggled
to find points early on. He had a driving layup and a 3-pointer
during an 11-0 run that gave them a 28-21 lead.
But the Gamecocks cut it to 32-28 at halftime on Grant's follow
basket and 3-pointer.
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Tennessee Clubhouse
South Carolina Clubhouse
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