University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
5-6
ETSU
5-6
Golden, Hall Key Vols' 66-63 Win
December 23, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 23, 2011
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The Vols used an 11-0 run in the final minutes to rally for a 66-63 victory over East Tennessee State on Friday night. Junior Kenny Hall was a force on both ends of the floor with a block, dunk and steal to help UT to the win. He finished with 11 points, eight rebounds and two blocks for the Vols (5-6). Cameron Tatum led the Vols with 13 points, Skylar McBee added 12, on four 3-pointers and Trae Golden had 11 points and six assists. ETSU (5-6) was led by Adam Sollazzo (19 points) and Tommy Hubbard (18 points).
Down eight, the Vols made the go-ahead run as Hall and Golden keyed the comeback. Golden finished a 3-point play with 3:20 left to bring UT back to within one at 59-58. Then Hall blocked a shot, which was rebounded by Golden with 2:24 left. Hall put home a slam dunk with 1:58 left for the go-ahead baset, 60-59. Hall then stole the ball on ETSU's ensuing possession and Golden dunked one home with 1:22 left for a 62-59. Sollazzo scored to bring the Bucs back within one at 62-61. After missed 3-pointers on both ends of the floor. Jordan McRae rattled home two free throws with 17.7 left for a 64-61 lead.
Sollazzo made a lay-up with 8.8 seconds left to cut it to 64-63. Golden added two more free throws with 7.9 seconds left to make it 66-63 UT. The Vols made good use of having fouls to give down the stretch as they were able to thwart several Buccaneer scoring chances with fouls. Sollazzo hoisted up a 3-pointer with a second left than clanged off the front rim as the Vols won their second game in a row.
After UT took a lead of 44-41, the Buccaneers outscored the Vols 18-7 over a nine-minute span to lead 59-51 with 5:30 left in regulation.
The Vols took their first lead on a fastbreak 3-pointer by McBee off a sweet feed from Wes Washpun with 14:30 left in the game, 42-41. Jeronne Maymon followed with a fastbreak slam dunk forcing ETSU to call timeout to end UT's 7-0 run. The Bucs responded by scoring nine of the game's next 11 points to regain the advantage, 50-46, as Sheldon Cooley canned two jumpshots including a 3-pointer.
Tatum tied the game for the first time at 29 all on his third 3-pointer of the half with two minutes left in the first stanza. ETSU scored the half's final four points to lead 33-29 at intermission behind Hubbard's 14 first-half points.
Down by as many as 11, the Vols cut the deficit to two (26-24) on a trio of 3-pointers: two by Tatum one and Jordan McRae with 5:38 left in the first half.
ETSU maintained a 10-point lead midway though the first half after a Marcus Dubose 3-pointer to give the Bucs a 23-13 lead.
The Vols fell behind 14-4 to start the game as Hubbard scored nine in the early spurt which covered the first five minutes of the game.
The Vols continue their four-game homestand as Tennessee hosts The Citadel on Thursday, Dec. 29 at 7 p.m. That game will be televised by SportSouth and heard statewide on the Vol Network.
