Men's College Basketball, NCAA Basketball NEWS
Vols Advance to Sweet Sixteen With OT Win Against Butler
Published by MoonDog on April 4, 2008
Despite late miscues and continued poor free throw shooting, second-seeded Tennessee advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the second year in a row by defeating seventh-seeded Butler 76-71 in overtime on Sunday in the East Regional.
The second round contest pitted two 30-win teams, the earliest in NCAA tournament history. Butler advanced with an opening round victory against Gonzaga on Friday.
After playing sluggishly in their first round victory against fifteenth-seeded American, the Vols started more efficiently taking an early 10-point lead.
The Vols increased their first half lead to 13 at one point, hitting three 3-pointers and forcing five turnovers in the first five minutes on their way to building a 21-8 lead.
Butler stayed poised and slowly got back into the game. The Bulldogs cut the lead to four just before the half, trailing 38-34 going into the locker room.
Tennessee led 63-60 after Tyler Smith made one of two free throw attempts with 1:23 left in regulation. On Butler’s next possession the Bulldogs Mike Green drove the lane and was fouled.
Green stepped to the line and made his first free throw attempt, but missed the second giving Tennessee a 63-61 lead with 1:09 remaining.
It was at this point where J.P. Prince almost became the biggest goat in the history of Tennessee basketball with consecutive bad plays.
Prince drove the baseline only to throw the ball to Butler’s Mike Campbell. The Bulldogs got a tip-in with 37 remaining to tie the score at 63.
On the Vols next possession, Prince again was his own worst enemy, called for traveling with 4.1 seconds remaining.
Butler’s Mike Green drove down the right side and attempted a shot, but Prince knocked the ball away to send the game into overtime
Tennessee opened up a three-point lead to start overtime when Chris Lofton nailed his third 3-pointer of the game to give the Vols a 66-63 advantage with 3:46 remaining in overtime.
The Bulldogs weren’t to be outdone when Mike Green hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 66 with 2:49 left. On their next possession, Butler took their first lead on A.J. Graves’ short jumper to make it 68-66 with 1:46 left in overtime.
The Vols scored six straight points in the final two minutes of overtime, including Ramar Smith’s basket with 27 seconds left to make it 72-68.
But Butler didn’t give up. Pete Campbell followed a missed shot to make it 72-70 with 16 seconds left. After two JaJaun Smith free throws, Julian Betko rebounded a missed 3-pointer by A.J. Graves and was fouled with 4.9 seconds left.
He made 1-of-2 from the line, and JuJuan Smith grabbed the rebound before sealing the victory with two free throws.
Graves led Butler with 21 points. Green added 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Campbell added 12 points and Willie Veasley had 11.
Wayne Chism led Tennessee with 16 points, while Tyler Smith added 15 and JaJuan Smith had 11.
Butler closes out their season at 30-4. Tennessee, 31-4, advances to next week’s Sweet Sixteen to face either Louisville or Oklahoma.
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