FROG VOL REPORT: Mens and Womens Basketball 12-22-2008

December 22, 2008 · Filed Under Basketball, Misc. Sports Reports 

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. The 16th ranked Tennessee Vols (8-2) barely escaped an upset from the Belmont Bruins on Saturday, with a 79-77 victory. The Bruins who beat Alabama and Cincinnati on the road last year and almost upset Duke in last years NCAA tourney, had four seniors and nine of their top 11 players return from last season, almost added the Vols to their list of upsets.

A 3-pointer from Bobby Maze and three missed free throws by Belmont in the final 7.9 seconds helped the Vols survive. Tyler Smith had 23 points, season-high, and eight rebounds. Belmont guard Alex Renfroe, had a career-high 30 points., but he missed three of his final four free throws that may have given the Bruins the win. The crowd had a major factor in him missing those free throws as they raised the roof on Thompson Bowling Arena.

A tough three game stretch, before Christmas break, was over for the Vols and they came away with two out of three wins over tough non-conference opponents losing to Temple and defeating Marquette and Belmont.

Maze had 13 points for Tennessee and junior forward Wayne Chism added 12 rebounds.

It was a very well played game and the score went back and forth, with only 15 turnovers (Vols had eight), and both teams made key runs. Belmont cut a 75-69 deficit to one with a little more than two minutes remaining, but Maze sank the three from the top of the key with 1:48 left to play, putting the Vols up 78-74.
Next up for the Big Orange Louisiana-Lafayette on December 29th 7:30 pm in Knoxville.

LADY VOLS:
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A National Championship rematch pitted the Stanford Cardinals (8-3) against The Lady Vols (9-2) on Sunday in front of a packed Thompson Bowling Arena on Sunday. The
11th-ranked Lady Vols got a 79-69 upset of No. 3 Stanford on Sunday night in overtime.

Stanford’s Jeanette Pohlen knocked down a 3-pointer to tie the game at 68 with 54 seconds left and
Tennessee’s Glory Johnson attempted a layup with 23 seconds left, but was charged with a foul. so the overtime period ensued. Pat Summitt said she thought her players grew from a loss at No. 5 Texas a week earlier.
Last seasons match-up between the two teams went to the Lady Cardinals with a score of 73-69 Stanford breaking the Cardinal’s 11-game slump to Tennessee. The Lady Vols got revenge with a 64-48 win in the national championship game for their second straight and eighth overall title.

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