KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- South Carolina tried to muscle its way
to an upset of fourth-ranked Tennessee. The Volunteers didn't
flinch.
Tennessee (16-1, 3-0 SEC) led nearly the entire game and held on
for a 79-71 victory Saturday as the aggressive Gamecocks (9-5, 1-2)
continued to battle until the end.
|  | | Tennessee's Ron Slay gets in the face of teammate Marcus Haislip after Haislip was fouled Saturday. |
"I guess they heard we were supposed to be soft," said
Tennessee's Isiah Victor, who scored all of his 12 points in the
second half and grabbed 10 rebounds. "I guess they thought if they
played us hard-nosed that we would bow down to them. That's not
true."
Tennessee coach Jerry Green was astonished by South Carolina's
aggression on defense, rebounding and getting open looks at the
basket. The Gamecocks had 18 offensive rebounds to Tennessee's
nine.
"That was the closest to a football game I've been involved
in," Green said. "They were the most aggressive team I've seen in
33 years of coaching."
The Gamecocks, who rallied to challenge Kentucky and beat
Florida at the buzzer, were down by 18 points with 12 minutes left.
But they cut Tennessee's lead to 10 points midway through the
second half. Antonio Grant hit a 3-pointer to trim the lead to
61-47. That started an 8-4 run that ended with another 3 to make it
65-55 with 7:48 to go.
The Vols came back with a 6-0 run to boost their lead back to
71-56. Jon Higgins made a steal and passed to Charles Hathaway on
the fastbreak for a slam with 5:13 left.
Tennessee seemed unfazed by the scrappy Gamecocks.
"A couple of years ago, we'd probably try to get physical back
and get out of our game plan instead of trying to execute," said
Tennessee point guard Tony Harris. "I think we are just an older
team and more mature. We know how to handle situations like that."
South Carolina cut the lead to eight points twice in the final
1:30, but couldn't get closer.
"We've made comebacks in every game we've played," South
Carolina coach Eddie Fogler said. "I'm pleased this team hasn't quit. I
was somewhat pleased with our emotion, effort and focus considering
our schedule."
Vincent Yarbrough added 14 points for the Vols, who are off to
their best start in school history and won their first three league
games for the first time since the 1989-90 season. Harris added 13
points and Hathaway had 12.
Jamel Bradley led the Gamecocks with 15 points while Grant and
Marius Petravicius each had 14.
After shooting 20-for-34 from the field in the first half, the
Vols cooled down to start the second half, missing all seven of
their 3-point attempts and just 3-for-13 from the field.
But Tennessee maintained its double-figures lead because South
Carolina -- the worst shooting team in the league at 41 percent --
was even worse, making just three of their first 22 shots in the
second half.
Down by 19 points in the first half, South Carolina cut
Tennessee's lead to 12 before halftime on Bradley's 3 with 33
seconds left, but Ron Slay hit a 3 before the buzzer to put the
Vols up 50-35.
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ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard
South Carolina Clubhouse
Tennessee Clubhouse
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