Bench Contributes 52 as #7 Vols Down UNC Asheville

Thursday, November 30

Knoxville

TBA

University of Tennessee

5-0

UNC Asheville

3-2

UNC-Asheville

Tennessee

November 30, 2000 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

The Volunteer bench poured in 52 of UT's 85 points to lead the Vols to an 85-59 victory over UNC-Asheville at Thompson-Boling Arena.

Ron Slay led the effort from the reserves with a game-high 16 points. Sharp-shooting Terrence Woods hit four three-pointers to account for his 12 points. Woods gave the Vols a huge lift in the opening minutes of the game. The Bulldogs jumped out a 9-2 lead four minutes into the game, but Woods nailed a three-pointer to cut the lead to 9-5. Ben McGonagil hit a layup for Asheville, but Woods answered with another three-pointer.

"Our bench did a great job," Tennessee coach Jerry Green said. "It is impressive to see Terrence come in the game and make things look so simple."

The Vols were trailing 21-15 with less than 10 minutes to go in the first half when Slay got things rolling. He scored six points around an Allan Lovett jumper to give Tennessee its first lead in the game. Slay hit another bucket to push the lead out to 26-23. Asheville tied the game at 26 with a Brent Carey three-pointer, but John Higgins hit a three-pointer of his own to push the lead back out to three.

Tennessee built an eight point lead to end the first half, then opened the second half with a 23-8 run capped by a Marcus Haislip slam to lead 61-38 at the 13-minute mark of the second half. The Bulldogs never got closer than 16 points the rest of the game.

Notes: Charles Hathaway played in his 100th career game...Vincent Yarbrough recorded his sixth career double-double...Terrence Woods set career-highs with 12 points and four three-pointers...Andy Ikeakor made his career debut for the Vols...Tennessee has won 33 consecutive home games against non-conference opponents...UT opened the season with a 5-0 record for the third time in four years under coach Jerry Green.