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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tennessee (No. 23 ESPN/USA Today) finished its regular season with three straight wins -- barely. LSU came to town about two weeks too late.
The Vols (21-9, 8-8 Southeastern Conference), who snapped a
five-game losing streak with two road wins in a row in the last
week, beat the Tigers 78-71 Saturday for their first home victory
since Feb. 3.
"If they had caught us in the middle of our slide, we possibly
could have lost this game today," said Vincent Yarbrough, who
scored 20 points for Tennessee. "Us being there every time they
came down to score and us having the willingness to fight every
possession, I think that means a lot."
Tony Harris added 12 on senior day as the Vols beat LSU for the
seventh straight time despite career-best outings by Tigers Collis
Temple III and Ronald Dupree.
|  | | Tennesssee's Vincent Yarbrough, right, is congratulated by LSU's Collis Temple, left, and Brian Bashara, center, after Tennessee defeated LSU. |
Tennessee led most of the game but had a hard time putting away
the tenacious Tigers (12-15, 2-14), who had stopped a nine-game
losing streak Wednesday with a win over Mississippi.
The Vols went ahead 67-62 on Yarbrough's 3 with 6:17 left, but
LSU cut it down to 69-67 again after Temple's 3 two minutes later.
Harris hit a 3 for a 75-71 lead with 2:56 to go, and Marcus Haislip
made two free throws and Harris added another in the final minute
to seal the win.
"LSU bent but didn't break," Tennessee coach Jerry Green said.
"They finally missed a couple of back-to-back shots late in the
game."
The Vols, who are a virtual lock in the NCAA tournament, can
still improve.
"We can. That is yet to come. We have to be patient and let
things flow," said Harris, who also had five assists.
LSU took its first lead of the second half, 54-53, after an 8-1
run. All of it came on Dupree's scoring. He hit a jumper, converted
a three-point play after his dunk was tipped in and then a 3 with
10:39 left.
Tennessee rallied and regained its lead after Jenis Grindstaff's
3 made it 59-54 with 8:55 left.
The Vols pushed their lead to 46-38 after an 8-0 early in the
second half, but Temple and Brian Beshara each hit 3s for LSU to
cut the lead to 46-44 with 14:22 left.
The Tigers couldn't make a defensive stop, and Tennessee
restored its lead to 52-46 after Harris Walker got a steal and
Isiah Victor followed with a dunk with 12:36 to go.
Temple finished with 30 points and Temple had 23, and no
Tennessee player had much success guarding either.
Both teams shot 27-of-52 from the field.
"I can't fault our team," LSU coach John Brady said. "They
made a few more plays than we did. They were better down the
stretch."
Yarbrough, who was 6-of-7 from beyond the arc, still hasn't made
an official announcement about whether he will forgo his senior
year to enter the NBA draft.
"I'm trying to be the best I can in college, and right now, I
don't feel that I'm ready to take my game to the next level,"
Yarbrough said.
Before the game Tennessee recognized its three seniors _ Charles
Hathaway, Tony Harris and Isiah Victor, who played in their final
game at Thompson-Boling Arena. Each was presented with a framed
jersey and received standing ovations.
"It's impressive how much they have contributed to our record.
They are an enjoyable group to be with, both on and off the court.
They are special to me," Green said.
The 2001 class is one of the most successful in school history
in winning 88 games and at least 20 games each season and going to
the NCAA tournament each year.
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ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard
LSU Clubhouse
Tennessee Clubhouse
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