University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
EA SPORTS (Exh)
Tennessee Wins Exhibition Opener Over EA Sports 68-64
November 01, 2001 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 1, 2001
KNOXVILLE-Tennessee had three players score double figures as the Vols defeated the EA Sports All-Stars 68-64 in Buzz Peterson's Thompson-Boling Arena debut as head coach.
But it wasn't easy for the shorthanded Volunteers.
"I've looked forward to this day, but it turned out a lot players weren't here," Peterson said. "We're battling to decide who will be our point guard. We had far too many turnovers. We weren't getting the shots we should have been getting out of transition.
Vincent Yarbrough, who scored a game-high 21 points, connected on two free throws with 16 seconds remaining, gave the Vols some breathing room, 67-64. Following an EA miss on the other end, freshman Derek Stribling added a free throw with 2.9 seconds to conclude the scoring and seal the game.
Freshman Elgrace Wilborn had an impressive debut for the Vols, scoring 20 points, pulling down 12 rebounds and blocking a game-high five shots. Jenis Grindstaff added 10 points.
EA Sports tied the game 59-59 with 4:15 remaining on a on a free throw by Shawn Bankhead, but never took the lead. The Vols countered with a four consecutive points following a steal and layup by Grindstaff. The All-Stars closed the gap to 65-64 on a Sean Jackson three-pointer with 36 seconds remaining but could get no closer.
Tennessee jumped out to a 12-4 advantage in the first five minutes. Triggered by consecutive three-point baskets by Yarbrough and a Wilborn jump hook, the Vols went on an 8-0 run before EA Sports called a timeout at the 15:05 mark. Higgins made stretched the lead to 24-8 on a three-pointer with 8:05 remaining. EA Sports got no closer than nine before the Vols took 36-27 advantage into halftime.
The game marked the first action for Tennessee junior college point guard Thaydeus Holden, and forwards Wilborn and Stribling. Senior guard Del Baker played his first game in two years after sitting out last season with a foot stress fracture.
The Vols played tonight's game with just seven scholarship players and eight overall due to a rash of preseason injuries and an academic suspension. Tennessee forward Ron Slay (stress fracture-leg), Brandon Crump (ankle sprain), Andy Ikeakor (foot) and Marcus Haislip (fall semester academic suspension) were all in street clothes on the UT bench. Crump is listed as day-to-day, while Slay's injury is to be re-evaluated in two weeks. Ikeakor's foot is in cast and he is listed as out indefinitely and Haislip is expected back in December following semester final exams.
"We have a long way to go," Peterson said. "By Saturday, I hope to have Crump back."
Tennessee's final exhibition game will be Nov. 9 against Worldwide at Thompson-Boling Arena (7:30 p.m. EST tipoff).
