Tennessee falls to College of Charleston, 71-65
By Nat Scott
For the second time in as many games the Tennessee Volunteers (3-6) squandered a double-digit lead and wound up losing the game. The Vols were up by as
many as 13 points in the first half, but the College of Charleston (8-1) took control in the second half spurred on by a 20-2 run.
The loss was the Vols fourth in a row and sixth in seven games.
The game started off promising for Tennessee. The Vols led throughout the first half as the lead bounced around from 5 to 10 points for the majority of theperiod. Dwight Miller was the story of the first half with 10 points to lead the Vols. However, the Cougars went on a 19-8 run to cut the Volunteer lead to four points at the half.
Grenneville, Tennessee native Antwaine Wiggins led the CoC comeback in the second half. Wiggins gave the Cougars their first lead of the half at 49-47 around the 12 minute mark, and CoC never looked back. Wiggins tied his career high with 24 points on 10 of 12 shooting. The Vols fell behind by as many as 14 points late, but rallied back to cut the lead to three with one minute left. However, a couple of late turnovers and missed shots ended the Vols chances for victory.
Jordan McRae and Dwight Miller led the Vols in scoring with 19 and 13 points respectively. Miller had 10 of his season high 13 in the first half; he also brought down 7 rebounds. McRae was quiet for most of the game, but he connected on three consecutive three point shots late in the game that pulled the Vols within three points late in the game.
The Vols inside game was promising at times; however, foul trouble for Kenny Hall and Jeronne Maymon limited their effectiveness throughout the game. The Vols two starting big men only combined for 11 points and 9 rebounds. Once again, the outside shooting was abismal. The Vols jacked up 29 three and only connected on 9 of them. Overall the Vols shot pretty well, 45.6% for the game, but only 31% from beyond the three point arch. The most disturbing stat may have been that the Vols only shot six free throws, and none in the second half.
Tennessee will be back at home on Tuesday night (December 20th) to take on UNC Asheville. The game will start a four game home streak for the Volunteers.