University of Tennessee Athletics

Vols Roll Past Tennessee-Martin 77-50
December 30, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 30, 2002
KNOXVILLE - Ron Slay scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Tennessee to a 77-50 win over Tennessee-Martin Monday night at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Slay, the SEC's leading scorer, reached the 20-point mark for the fifth time this season and missed his fifth double-double of the season by just one rebound. Slay got an early rest with the Vols leading 74-45 with 4:01 remaining.
Brandon Crump, who equaled his career-high with 16 points, was the only other UT player in double-figures as the Vols cleared the bench in the final minutes.
"Our emphasis before the game was to go inside," Tennessee head coach Buzz Peterson said. "We tried to take advantage of our size with Brandon Crump, Ron Slay, and Elgrace Wilborn. Crump has a very nice shooting touch. He can really shoot it from 15 feet in. Ron had another solid, business-like performance for us tonight."
Joey Walker led the Skyhawks, who hit just 32 percent from the field, with 10 points. UT-Martin's Earl Bullock, who entered the game averaging 20.6 points, was held to a season-low three points on 1-of-13 shooting from the field. UT-Martin (6-4)
The Vols, who led by as many as 30 points in the second half, improved to 6-2 on the season, including a 4-0 mark at Thompson-Boling Arena. Tennessee has now won 45 of its last 46 non-conference home games dating back to 1997.
Tennessee broke open a tight game late in the first half. Kenan Aseric's basket pulled the Skyhawks within five points at 25-20 with 7:10 remaining in the first half.
From there, the Vols outscored UT-Martin 20-3 the rest of the half, including a 15-0 run over a four-minute span to build a comfortable advantage.
John Winchester's layup at the buzzer gave UT took a 45-23 at halftime. The Vols forced the Skyhawks into 10 first half turnovers.
"The run we had late in the first half was the key for us," said Peterson. "It helped us that Jeremy Kelly was on the bench during that time in foul trouble. C.J. Watson made some good decisions in the face of a Tennessee-Martin defense that will really get into you."
Tonight's game was just the second meeting between the two schools. The Vols lead the series 2-0.
Tennessee returns to action Saturday with an intersectional matchup against New Mexico at Thompson-Boling Arena before opening SEC play Jan. 8 against Kentucky.