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Remembering Tennessee basketball’s four games vs. Rick Barnes-led Texas

By Caleb Calhoun

GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 21: Head coach Rick Barnes of the Texas Longhorns directs his team against the Duke Blue Devils during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum on March 21, 2009 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 21: Head coach Rick Barnes of the Texas Longhorns directs his team against the Duke Blue Devils during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum on March 21, 2009 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NC – MARCH 27: Chris Lofton #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers looks on against the Louisville Cardinals during the 2008 NCAA Men’s East Regional Semifinal at Bobcats Arena on March 27, 2008 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC – MARCH 27: Chris Lofton #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers looks on against the Louisville Cardinals during the 2008 NCAA Men’s East Regional Semifinal at Bobcats Arena on March 27, 2008 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

111 (OT). 534. 467. Thompson-Boling Arena. 2006-2007. Knoxville, Tenn.. Regular Season Game. 105

Rank: 1; Saturday, Dec. 23, 2006

Although from a rankings perspective, Tennessee basketball’s win at the top 10 ranked Texas team in 2005 was the most impressive, this game was by far the most thrilling. A year later, the Vols were still looking good under Bruce Pearl, but after losing three starters from the year before, they had a lot of rebuilding to do.

Texas, meanwhile, had this superstar in Kevin Durant but was also struggling early. Both teams were starting to get on a streak in December, though, and while they entered this game unranked, it was clear the winner would be back in the top 25 the following Sunday.

Early on in Knoxville, that team looked like it would be Texas. The Longhorns built a 17-point second half lead. Then the Vols fought back. Chris Lofton, who struggled in the first half, found his rhythm and scored 18 points in the final 16 minutes of regulation.

Down five with 70 seconds left, Lofton saved the Vols. He hit a three to cut it to two, and after an A.J. Abrams missed layup, he dropped off Kevin Durant from 35 feet out in one of the most memorable shots in school history.

Next. Vol basketball's all-time depth chart. dark

That gave UT a one-point lead, and the game eventually went to overtime. UT dominated the OT to end up winning. Lofton was the star with 35 points, but Duke Crews, Ramar Smith, JaJuan Smith and Wayne Chism all had double figures. It was truly a memorable win.

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