Men’s Hoops Drop Second Straight at UT

Men’s Hoops Drop Second Straight at UT

2/1/2006

By ELIZABETH A. DAVIS, AP Sports Writer
February 1, 2006

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Major Wingate scored 16 points and Dane Bradshaw had 10 points and 12 rebounds to lift No. 13 Tennessee to a 69-62 win over Vanderbilt on Wednesday night.

The Volunteers (15-3, 6-1 Southeastern Conference) needed a push at the end to overtake Vanderbilt and remain a perfect 11-0 at home.

The Commodores (12-6, 3-4) were coming off a 23-point loss at Florida, but they had impressive wins at Georgetown and Kentucky already this season.

Neither team could keep a lead for long or pull away if they did, setting up a frantic finish.

Vanderbilt tied it at 58, and Tennessee went ahead when Bradshaw made the second of two free throws. This time, the Vols never trailed again.

Wingate scored on a putback, then missed two free throws and JaJuan Smith made a 3 from the wing to give Tennessee control and a 64-58 lead with 1:05 remaining.

Vanderbilt’s Julian Terrell cut it to four with 48.6 seconds left, and the Commodores were down to intentionally fouling. C.J. Watson made one of two free throws and Chris Lofton and Smith each sank a pair to ice it.

Watson finished with 11 points and five assists and Smith had 10 points. Andre Patterson added 11 rebounds and eight points.

The Vols, the highest scoring team in the SEC, shot only 36 percent (21-of-58) from the floor, but they took advantage of Vanderbilt’s miscues.

Tennessee scored 27 points off the Commodores’ 16 turnovers.

And the Vols were aggressive and were fouled often. They were 23-of-32 from the foul line while Vanderbilt was only 2-of-5.

Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings didn’t like that and often argued with the calls. He was whistled for a technical in the first half.

Vanderbilt was leading by four with 10 minutes left, but Wingate scored five straight points. The Commodores’ last lead was 56-55 with 4:57 left.

Vanderbilt was led by DeMarre Carroll with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Derrick Byars and Terrell each scored 12 points before fouling out. Terrell also had 10 rebounds.

The Commodores had won three in a row over Tennessee.