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No. 2 seed Tennessee Tops Butler in OT

Vols advance to Sweet Sixteen for second straight year

By Mike Buss,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 23, 2008 8:00 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Butler answered all but one of Tennessee's runs in their second round NCAA tournament matchup today. Unfortunately for the Horizon League champs (30-4), they couldn't match the Vols in overtime, and fell 76-71. Wayne Chism led Tennessee with 16 points, while Tyler Smith had 15 and JaJuan Smith 11, reports the Indianapolis Star. Senior A.J. Graves led Butler with 21.

Graves put the Bulldogs, who shot only 36%, ahead by two with 1:48 remaining in overtime. The Vols, however, scored the next six points while forcing one turnover and blocking another shot. Smith then sealed the victory by sinking four free throws in the final 14 seconds. Second-seeded Tennessee next plays in the East Regional at Charlotte, N.C., against Louisville.

Butler's Mike Green, foreground, and Tennessee's J.P. Prince struggle for control of a loose ball during a second-round NCAA East Regional basketball game in Birmingham, Ala., Sunday, March 23, 2008.
Butler's Mike Green, foreground, and Tennessee's J.P. Prince struggle for control of a loose ball during a second-round NCAA East Regional basketball game in Birmingham, Ala., Sunday, March 23, 2008.   (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Tennessee's JaJuan Smith rides off the court on Duke Crews' back after a 76-71 overtime win over Butler in a second-round NCAA East Regional basketball game in Birmingham, Ala., on March 23, 2008..
Tennessee's JaJuan Smith rides off the court on Duke Crews' back after a 76-71 overtime win over Butler in a second-round NCAA East Regional basketball game in Birmingham, Ala., on March 23, 2008..   (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Tennessee's Brian Williams (33) shoots over Butler's Pete Campbell (34) in the first half of a second-round NCAA East Regional basketball game in Birmingham, Ala., Sunday, March 23, 2008.
Tennessee's Brian Williams (33) shoots over Butler's Pete Campbell (34) in the first half of a second-round NCAA East Regional basketball game in Birmingham, Ala., Sunday, March 23, 2008.   (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Tennessee's Chris Lofton, right, drives as Butler's Mike Green defends in the first half of a second-round NCAA East Regional basketball game in Birmingham, Ala., Sunday, March 23, 2008.
Tennessee's Chris Lofton, right, drives as Butler's Mike Green defends in the first half of a second-round NCAA East Regional basketball game in Birmingham, Ala., Sunday, March 23, 2008.   (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Butler head coach Brad Stevens, left, and Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl chat before a second round NCAA East Regional basketball game in Birmingham, Ala., Sunday, March 23, 2008.
Butler head coach Brad Stevens, left, and Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl chat before a second round NCAA East Regional basketball game in Birmingham, Ala., Sunday, March 23, 2008.   (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
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Stats

Box score
ESPN

Prince manning the point for UT
Tennessean

 
NCAA basketball • Southeastern Conference • Tennessee Volunteers • Butler Bulldogs • Horizon League • JaJuan Smith • A.J. Graves • Tyler Smith • 2008 NCAA Tournament • Wayne Chism

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