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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tennessee beat Wisconsin at its own
game.
Tony Harris hit six 3-pointers and scored 22 points to help the Volunteers (No. 9 ESPN/USA Today, AP) to a 66-56 victory over the Badgers (No. 20 ESPN/USA Today, No. 18 AP) on Tuesday night.
Tennessee (3-0) started to emulate the Badgers' slow, defensive
style, a big departure from the Vols' normally frenzied, fast-paced
scoring affairs.
"Even though there weren't a lot of points scored, we felt like
it was our type of game. We knew in the back of our minds we can
win, and when you do that, you are in control," said Tennessee's
Vincent Yarbrough, held to nine points after averaging 15 in the
first two games of the season.
Vols coach Jerry Green said Tennessee's ability to adapt shows
maturity, a characteristic the Vols have been seeking the last few
years.
"Poise-wise we were a lot more under control. We weren't making
some of those flamboyant plays," Green said. "I told our team not
every team can play a 48-to-50 type game and then play a 100-point
game. We are flexible enough to play either."
Tennessee won its 31st straight nonconference home game, while
the Badgers played in their first game since losing to eventual
NCAA champion Michigan State in the Final Four.
Andy Kowske had 21 points for Wisconsin, which opened the season
for the first time against a Top 10-team since coach Dick Bennett's
first game, a 66-58 loss to No. 3 Villanova in the 1995 Maui
Invitational.
The Badgers got as close as six with 2:19 left. Mark Vershaw's
basket with 2:19 left cut the Vols' lead to 55-49. But the Vols
iced the game in the final 23 seconds, with Harris and Vincent
Yarbrough each hitting two free throws.
"The deal was we couldn't put the ball in the basket. We had to
make the shots to draw closer. Each team played the way it had
to," Bennett said.
Wisconsin finished with 21-for-60 shooting, while the Vols were
20-of-49.
Tennessee got nine points each from Jon Higgins and Yarbrough,
and Isiah Victor added eight. Roy Boone scored 12 points and
Vershaw added eight for Wisconsin.
Harris scored five points as Tennessee started the second half
with a 13-2 run to increase to take a 38-24 lead.
Harris' 3 put Tennessee up 46-31 with 10:23 left, but the
Badgers scored six straight points and Kowske's basket with 7:26
left cut it to nine at 46-37.
But Harris made two 3s, a one-handed shot under the basket and a
free throw to put Tennessee back up 55-44 with 3:45 to go.
Green said he was pleased with how Tennessee's point guard kept
the Vols under control.
"He was good on defense, and on offense, he wasn't just
scoring, but running the offense very well," Green said.
Wisconsin cut the Vols' lead to 25-22 at halftime, the smallest
margin of the first half since Tennessee led 14-11 after Vershaw's
layup with 8:05 left.
Tennessee had a chance to take a nine-point lead at the end of
the first half, but Terrence Woods dropped the ball as he was
setting up to shoot a 3-pointer. Wisconsin came up with the ball,
and Freddie Owens banked in a 3 from across midcourt about 55 feet
away as time expired.
The Vols jumped out to a 12-4 lead on Slay's layup with 12:02
left, but the Badgers chipped away at the lead, using their
deliberate, defensive style to slow down Tennessee.
Wisconsin's Kirk Penney was 0-for-16 from the field, including
eight misses from 3-point range.
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Wisconsin Clubhouse
Tennessee Clubhouse
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