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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- As Tony Harris goes, so goes
Tennessee.
Harris scored only four points in the Volunteers' upset loss to
Alabama over the weekend and he had only five points in the first
half Wednesday night against Arkansas.
But Harris scored 18 points in the second half and led the
sometimes struggling Volunteers (No. 10 ESPN/USA Today, No. 11 AP) to a 73-66 victory.
"Tony Harris had a game off last week, but came back tonight,"
Tennessee coach Jerry Green said. "When we get him and Isiah
(Victor) back on track, we can start rolling."
Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson credited Harris.
"Harris was the man tonight," he said. "He put their team on
his shoulders. He had the big steals and when he had to score, he
did."
The win gave Tennessee a school-record 23 victories, breaking a
mark set in 1976-77, and a tie with Kentucky for second place in
the Southeastern Conference's East Division.
The Volunteers (23-5, 11-4) found the Razorbacks (14-14, 6-9)
and SEC freshman scoring leader Joe Johnson, who finished with 21
points, tough to handle.
"I am so proud of this team," Green said. "There were times
tonight they could have backed down, but they didn't."
Tennessee had to score the last eight points of the first half,
keyed by two 3-pointers by Jon Higgins, to take a 28-27 halftime
lead.
The teams went through four lead changes and almost four minutes
without a field goal before Harris got a steal and layup to tie the
game at 49 with less than eight minutes to play.
C.J. Black, Tennessee's career block shot leader, denied Blake
Eddins in one of his four blocks for the game and followed with two
free throws to put the Vols ahead 51-49.
Johnson tied the game at 55-55 with two free throws on a team
technical called after a Tennessee fan hurled an orange onto the
court.
But Vincent Yarbrough, who finished with 16 points and 14
rebounds, hit a 3-pointer to put Tennessee ahead 58-55 with 5:22 to
play.
The Vols never trailed again as Harris scored eight of
Tennessee's final 15 points and built their largest lead of the
game at the end.
"We played a very good basketball game," Richardson said.
"(But) it was the same old story at the end. We had our chances.
This team just hasn't been able to finish."
Meantime, Green said his team can do more.
"I love this team," he said. "It's a pleasure to come to
practice because this team still has not reached its full
potential."
Ron Slay added 13 points for Tennessee.
Arkansas got 14 points from Eddins and 11 from Chris Walker.
Tennessee shot 47 percent (26-of-55) from the field to Arkansas'
40 percent (27-of-67).
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Arkansas Clubhouse
Tennessee Clubhouse
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