University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
14-1, 1-0
Auburn
10-4, 0-1
Vols Defeat Tigers In Two Overtimes
January 06, 2001 | Men's Basketball
AUBURN, Ala. (Jan.6, AP) - Isiah Victor scored 12 of his career-high 34 points in the two overtimes to lift No. 6 Tennessee to a 96-88 victory over Auburn on Saturday in the SEC opener for both.
Auburn's Jamison Brewer tries to shoot over Tennessee's Jon Higgins (42) in the second half. (AP Photo) |
The Volunteers (14-1) outscored Auburn 16-8 in the second extra period, hitting nine free throws to emerge from a seven-game road trip with only one loss.
The Tigers (10-4) hit only two field goals in the second overtime after rallying from a six-point deficit late in regulation.
Tony Harris's only field goal, a 3-pointer, and Vincent Yarbrough's putback gave the Vols an 89-82 lead with 1:35 to play.
Yarbrough finished with 23 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Reserve Ron Slay added 10 points, while Harris had just seven points, half his season average.
Six of the eight Tigers who played scored in double figures.
The Tigers were led by Jamison Brewer's career-high 21 points. Adam Harrington had 15 points and Marquis Daniels 13. Abdou Diame and Lincoln Glass both scored 12 and Scott Pohlman added 11.
Diame also had a career-high 12 rebounds.
The Tigers were only 4-of-12 on free throws and 10-of-33 on 3-pointers.
Auburn trailed 71-65 with just over a minute to play in regulation before Harrington hit his third 3-pointer of the second half. Brewer followed with a steal and a three-point play to tie the game with 1:08 left.
Both teams had chances after that.
Harrington's shot was rejected by Victor and Kyle Davis blocked Jon Higgins' shot at the other end as time expired.
Victor scored Tennessee's first six points of the first overtime. Auburn took an 80-77 lead on Brewer's 3-pointer with 58 seconds left. He was fouled but missed the free throw.
Yarbrough also was fouled on a 3-point attempt 10 seconds later, and he hit three foul shots to send it to a second overtime.
Tennessee dominated much of that. Auburn closed to five points on Pohlman's 3-pointer with just over a minute left and Harris missed two free throws.
But Auburn couldn't capitalize and Tennessee hit 5-of-6 free throws to seal the victory.
Tennessee was the highest-ranked team to visit Beard-Eaves Coliseum since No. 1 Kentucky won 88-73 on Feb. 27, 1996.
