The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Tennessee
Tennessee upsets No. 7 Men's Basketball, 95-78
12.17.2005 | Men's Basketball
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Chris Lofton scored 21 points and Tennessee kept up its perfect early season run under first-year coach Bruce Pearl with a 95-78 victory over No. 6 Texas on Saturday, the Longhorns' second straight blowout loss.
C.J. Watson added 17 points for Tennessee (6-0), which hit 12 3-pointers, hounded Texas into 22 turnovers and routinely sliced through the Longhorns' normally tough defense for easy baskets.
A week earlier, Texas (8-2) was ranked No. 2 and off to its best start in 24 years. Then came a 31-point loss to No. 1 Duke and then this, a surprisingly easy Tennessee victory that snapped the Longhorns' 33-game home winning streak outside the Big 12.
P.J. Tucker had 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead Texas, which was booed briefly by the home crowd in the first half. The Longhorns outrebounded Tennessee 37-25 but couldn't stop the Volunteers from cashing in on the rash of turnovers with 3-pointers.
Duke hit 12 3-pointers against Texas, nine by All-America J.J. Redick. Lofton filled in where Redick left off, hitting five 3s, some when he was wide open, others with a defender in his face.
Tennessee built a 48-28 halftime lead behind seven 3-pointers. Their tough perimeter defense confused the Longhorns guards and kept them from dumping the ball into center LaMarcus Aldridge, who finished with 15 points but took just two shots in the first half.
The Longhorns were already playing without injured starter Brad Buckman (calf) when point guard Daniel Gibson staggered off the floor 9 minutes into the first half with a concussion after a blow to the head away from the basket.
Texas hit just two baskets in the first 7 minutes and the home crowd booed when Aldridge turned the ball over on an inbounds pass. Tennessee kept putting on the pressure. JaJuan Smith hit consecutive 3-pointers from deep on the right wing that made it 18-5.
Texas was just as bewildered coming out of the locker room as it was going in. Turnovers by A.J. Abrams and Mike Williams on the first two possessions led to easy layups by Tennessee's Watson.
Tennessee kept stretching the lead.
Lofton hit a 3-pointer from the right corner, then another when the Volunteers missed three shots under the basket before the ball was tipped out to Lofton, who was all alone on the wing. Watson then exploited another hole in the Texas defense, blowing past three Longhorns in the lane for another layup that made it 64-39.
Tennessee led 77-53 before Major Wingate and Ryan Childress fouled out and Texas whittled the lead to 79-68 with just over 3 minutes to play.
TENNESSEE QUOTES
Bruce Pearl, Head Coach
General comments: We played a great game tonight. I'm really happy for the kids. They've been through a lot and worked really hard, and this is a great win for Tennessee. We have an athletic program that enjoys unparalleled success and these guys feel it to try and hold up their end, so this was a big win for Tennessee.
On stopping LaMarcus Aldridge: The big thing was five shot attempts more than anything. We had guys foul out and those were all interior defensive fouls. He is so good that we tried to limit his touches and I though we did a great job getting ready for Texas and we did a wonderful job.
On JuJuan Smith: Well you've got to make plays like he did today if you want to do something special like beating Texas at Texas. It's rewarding to win because they're so good and so well coached.
JuJuan Smith
On driving the ball: First of all, it wasn't easy. We were both out there battling and I guess we just won the battle tonight.
Chris Lofton
On being effective: I think they were overplaying us, overplaying us for threes. We have this one play that we just run it and it works. It's a good play. I had some open looks and I missed some too, so I just need to work harder so I don't miss any open shots.
TEXAS QUOTES
Rick Barnes, Head Coach
On why the team is not playing to their potential: I do not want to take anything away from Tennessee because I thought they came in and did what they wanted to do, but Brad is a big part of what we do, he is a senior and a leader. Also Kenton has not really practiced that much since the Duke game because of his abdominal pull, and losing Daniel makes it difficult, but I was pleased with Connor's rhythm and A.J. coming in.
On Tennessee's shooting: People are going to shoot the ball, but when you turn it over and give a team like that an open court they'll find what they're looking for, and they did. I'm not surprised, but I think we need to do more defensively. We have shown we can do it; we just need to be consistent.
On A.J. Abrams playing more minutes: We spent our whole preseason with Daniel and Brad being a big part of what we're doing, so now we're making adjustments and we're getting new guys out there. We didn't expect A.J. to be playing 31 minutes at this point in the season, but hopefully with the experience he is getting right now he can improve on more areas of his game.
P.J. Tucker, Junior Forward
On Texas' play today: We had a couple of good days in practice, but we came out tonight, Daniel got hurt, things went wrong. We just weren't playing like ourselves. We missed a couple of shots and we weren't getting our looks at the beginning. You have to give all of the credit to [Tennessee] because they came out and played with everything they had.
On Brad Buckman's absence due to injury: It's hard. Buck's a guy that can do a lot of different things. When he's out, everybody else has to step up and fill that void. I have to pick up some of that slack. We all have to rebound a little bit more, put a couple more shots in. But it's tough without him.
LaMarcus Aldridge, Sophomore Forward
On playing the Volunteers: We were fired up, but we just didn't use our energy in the right way. I really don't know why. I think our guys gave it their all but Tennessee just played good basketball. They shot the ball well, doubled the posts well, and they took our point guard out. They just took care of business.
A.J. Abrams, Freshman Guard
On today's loss to Tennessee: We had a game plan coming our but I don't think we followed it as well as we should have. I think that's why we had problems taking the ball down the court and getting the ball in bounds.
On his playing time: That's why I came to Texas - to get big minutes. It is unfortunate that Daniel went down but I always know I have to be ready to come in and play at any time.
Team Notes
- The loss ends a 33 consecutive home non-conference winning streak for the Longhorns. Texas is now 5-1 at home.
- The all-time series between the two schools is now tied 2-2. It was the first visit to Austin for the Volunteers.
- Texas finished with a 37 to 25 lead in rebounding, in 10 games this season, UT has out-rebounded their opponent nine times.
- Tennessee scored a Texas season-high for points in the first half (48) and tied three-point FGs (12) made.
Individual Notes
LaMarcus Aldridge
- Aldridge finished with 15 points, on the season he is averaging 17.6 points per game after 10 games.
- He has recorded at least 13 points in all nine games this season.
- His seven made FTs on 10 attempts is a new season-high.
A.J. Abrams
- Abrams scored a career-high 19 points, shooting a career-high 6-of-11 from the floor and 2-of-4 from the free throw line.
- He also had career-high for 3FGs made (5) and minutes (31).
P.J. Tucker
- Tucker recorded his third double-double of the season with 20 points and 11 rebounds. It was the 15th of his career.
- Tucker tied his career-high with five assists in the game.
Kenton Paulino
- Paulino continued his streak of double-digit outings, scoring 13 points against the Volunteers. He is averaging 12.6 points per game over the last three games (11 vs. UT-Pan American and 14 vs. Duke).
- During the three game stretch he has shot 7-of-8 (.875) from the FT line, including 4-of-4 against Tennessee.
- Paulino also had career-high registering 38 minutes.
UT Starters: Daniel Gibson, LaMarcus Aldridge, Mike Williams, Kenton Paulino, P.J. Tucker
Tip: Tennessee won the tip.
