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No. 4 Tennessee Tops Florida

No. 16 Vandy holds off Mississippi State in OT, No. 10 Wisconsin humiliates Penn State

By Chip Bayers,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 6, 2008 2:39 AM CST
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(Newser) – The 4th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers fell behind by 16 points on the road against a Florida squad fighting to earn an NCAA berth—but roared back to win anyway, 89-86 behind JaJuan Smith's 23 points and Chris Lofton's 21. In the process, the Vols set a school record for victories in a single season. Florida, meanwhile, dropped its 6th of the last 10 and may have played itself out of the NCAA tournament. Elsewhere in the Top 25:

  • No. 16 Vanderbilt needed overtime to top Mississippi State 85-82, behind Shan Foster's career-high 42 points; Foster's 9th straight three-pointer with 2.7 seconds left in OT was the winner.
  • No. 10 Wisconsin clinched a share of the Big Ten regular season title by trouncing Penn State 77-41.

Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl reacts to a Tennessee score during the second half of Tennessee's 89-86 win in a basketball game in Gainesville, Fla., Wednesday, March 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)
Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl reacts to a Tennessee score during the second half of Tennessee's 89-86 win in a basketball game in Gainesville, Fla., Wednesday, March 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)   (Associated Press)
Florida coach Billy Donovan doesn't agree with a call during the first half of Florida's basketball game against Tennessee on Wednesday, March 5, 2008, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)
Florida coach Billy Donovan doesn't agree with a call during the first half of Florida's basketball game against Tennessee on Wednesday, March 5, 2008, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)   (Associated Press)
Tennessee's Tyler Smith goes over Florida's Dan Werner (21) for a second-half shot during a basketball game in Gainesville, Fla., Wednesday, March 5, 2008. Tennessee defeated Florida 89-86. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)
Tennessee's Tyler Smith goes over Florida's Dan Werner (21) for a second-half shot during a basketball game in Gainesville, Fla., Wednesday, March 5, 2008. Tennessee defeated Florida 89-86. (AP Photo/Phil...   (Associated Press)
Florida's Dan Werner (21) and Tennessee's Tyler Smith (1) have a difference of opinion as to who has possession of the ball during the second half of a basketball game in Gainesville, Fla., Wednesday, March 5, 2008. Tennessee defeated Florida 89-86. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)
Florida's Dan Werner (21) and Tennessee's Tyler Smith (1) have a difference of opinion as to who has possession of the ball during the second half of a basketball game in Gainesville, Fla., Wednesday,...   (Associated Press)
Vanderbilt's Shan Foster (32) walks off the court after hitting the game-winning three-point basket to beat Mississippi State in overtime, 86-85, in a college basketball game in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, March 5, 2008. Foster led Vanderbilt with a career-high 42 points. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Vanderbilt's Shan Foster (32) walks off the court after hitting the game-winning three-point basket to beat Mississippi State in overtime, 86-85, in a college basketball game in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday,...   (Associated Press)
Mississippi State forward Jamont Gordon is carried off the court by Billy Begley, left, and Brian Johnson, right, after injuring his leg in an overtime period against Vanderbilt in a college basketball game in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, March 5, 2008. Vanderbilt won in overtime 86-85. Gordon led Mississippi State with...
Mississippi State forward Jamont Gordon is carried off the court by Billy Begley, left, and Brian Johnson, right, after injuring his leg in an overtime period against Vanderbilt in a college basketball...   (Associated Press)
Mississippi State forward Jamont Gordon (44) is helped by a trainer after being injured in overtime against Vanderbilt in a basketball game in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, March 5, 2008. Vanderbilt won in overtime, 86-85. Gordon led Mississippi State with 24 points. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Mississippi State forward Jamont Gordon (44) is helped by a trainer after being injured in overtime against Vanderbilt in a basketball game in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, March 5, 2008. Vanderbilt won...   (Associated Press)
Wisconsin's Tanner Bronson (12), Brian Butch (32), Trevon Hughes (3), and Marcus Landry (1) rush the court after Wisconsin beat Penn State 77-41 in a college basketball game Wednesday, March 5, 2008, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)
Wisconsin's Tanner Bronson (12), Brian Butch (32), Trevon Hughes (3), and Marcus Landry (1) rush the court after Wisconsin beat Penn State 77-41 in a college basketball game Wednesday, March 5, 2008,...   (Associated Press)
Wisconsin's Joe Krabbenhoft, left, J.P. Gavinski and Brian Butch, right, celebrate with the Big Ten trophy after Wisconsin beat Penn State 77-41 in a college basketball game, to clinch at least a share on the regular-season conference title Wednesday, March 5, 2008, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)
Wisconsin's Joe Krabbenhoft, left, J.P. Gavinski and Brian Butch, right, celebrate with the Big Ten trophy after Wisconsin beat Penn State 77-41 in a college basketball game, to clinch at least a share...   (Associated Press)
Wisconsin's Trevon Hughes (3) drives around Penn State's Jeff Brooks during the second half of a college basketball game Wednesday March 5, 2008, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)
Wisconsin's Trevon Hughes (3) drives around Penn State's Jeff Brooks during the second half of a college basketball game Wednesday March 5, 2008, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)   (Associated Press)
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Vanderbilt 86 Mississippi State 85
Associated Press

Wisconsin 77 Penn State 41
Associated Press

 
NCAA basketball • Florida Gators • Mississippi State Bulldogs • Big Ten • Penn State Nittany Lions • Wisconsin Badgers • Southeastern Conference • Tennessee Volunteers • Vanderbilt Commodores

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No. 8 Vols Blast Gamecocks, Win SEC

No. 16 Texas A&M Shocked at Home by OSU

Florida Starts Fast, Whips No. 14 Vandy

Memphis Plays It Tough in Beating Miss. St.
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