University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
19-9, 6-8
Vanderbilt
15-12, 4-10
Vols End Streak With 78-70 Win at Vanderbilt
February 24, 2001 | Men's Basketball
 Tennessee's Vincent Yarbrough (22) scored 20 points without missing a shot and No. 22 Tennessee broke a five-game losing streak with a 78-70 win . (AP Photo/John Russell) |
Tennessee broke out of a five-game losing streak Saturday with a 78-70 victory over Vanderbilt, two days after a pair of team meetings held to clear the air.
"I felt it brought us together as a family," said Vincent Yarbrough, who led the Vols with 20 points Saturday on a perfect shooting day.
Tony Harris played his best game in a while despite still be slowed by a tender ankle. He had 14 points, five steals and two assists.
"We just let a lot of things out," he said of Thursday's meetings, one for players only and one for players and coaches. "It gave us a chance to raise some things and come together."
Harris said the possibility the Vols were on the verge of playing themselves out of the NCAA tournament, after being ranked as high as fourth in the nation earlier this season, gave the players a jolt.
"That woke us up. We really had to get our act together," he said. "We've still got to get better."
It was just the third win in 11 games for Tennessee (19-9, 6-8 Southeastern Conference) and only the second this month, both over Vanderbilt. The victory also ended a string of five straight road losses in SEC games for Tennessee.
"We've done a lot of things to try to get back to where we were at the start of the year," said Tennessee coach Jerry Green. "I don't know if this is it, but I'm pleased with the win. I thought we showed a lot of poise down the stretch."
Vanderbilt's Darius Coulibaly (4) battles Tennessee's Charles Hathaway (55) for the rebound. Tennessee defeated Vanderbilt 78-70. (AP Photo/John Russell) |
Vanderbilt was led by Chuck Moore's 16 points. Billy Richmond added 13 and Greg LaPointe had 11 as the Commodores lost their fifth straight overall and sixth straight SEC game.
"Tennessee's a great team," said the Commodores' Anthony Williams. "When they get ready to play they're one of the best in the league."
Tennessee led by 11 points early in the second half before Vanderbilt ran off eight straight to pull within 41-38. The Vols responded by scoring the next nine points for a 50-38 lead with 11:43 left.
Vanderbilt got back within six at 64-58 before LaPointe missed twice from point-blank range and Yarbrough scored on a 3-on-1 break at the other end for an eight-point Tennessee lead with 4:53 to go.
Vanderbilt would get no closer than six points the rest of the way as Tennessee hit 10 of 12 free throws in the final couple of minutes.
The victory keeps the Vols' NCAA tournament hopes alive with two regular-season games and the SEC tournament left before the NCAA field is selected. Tennessee plays at South Carolina Tuesday and plays host to LSU next Saturday to close the regular season.
"We still might not make it," Yarbrough said. "We're focused on getting better. Hopefully we won't revert back to the team we've been in February and most of January."
