Townes Leads Arkansas' Second-Half Comeback to Upset No. 10 Tennessee
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Darian Townes scored 15 points and Jonathon Modica added 14 to help Arkansas rally to beat No. 10 Tennessee 73-69 on Saturday afternoon.
Arkansas (19-8, 8-6 Southeastern Conference) handed the Volunteers (20-5, 11-3) their first loss at home this season, and further bolstered its case for an NCAA tournament bid.
The Razorbacks improved to 2-5 on the road this year. But they continued their momentum following back-to-back wins over Florida and Alabama.
Eric Ferguson added 12 points while Charles Thomas had 11 and Vincent Hunter had 10 for Arkansas, which dominated the post.
The Razorbacks outrebounded Tennessee 45-24. Tennessee had clinched at least a share of the SEC East title with a win at Florida earlier this week.
Trailing 63-49, the Razorbacks made a late charge with a 15-0 run that included seven points by Townes. Ferguson’s 3 with 4:13 left put Arkansas up 64-63, the Razorbacks’ first lead of the second half.
Chris Lofton ended Tennessee’s drought with a 3 for a brief lead with 3:53 to go, but Thomas and Townes scored consecutive baskets to give the lead back to Arkansas.
The Razorbacks then pushed the lead to four. Tennessee’s JaJuan Smith made one of two free throws, and Dane Bradshaw sank a pair to cut it to 70-69 with 32.9 seconds remaining.
The Vols fouled to stop the clock, and Modica hit two free throws with 25.8 seconds remaining. Tennessee had a chance to tie, but Smith missed a 3. Ferguson added another free throw to seal it with 10.6 seconds left.
The Vols stretched their lead to 11 with a 7-0 run early in the second half. Arkansas threatened to make its own run and cut it to six with 11:38 remaining after a three-point play by Townes and a basket by Hunter. But 24 seconds later, Tennessee was back in control.
Bradshaw scored and then got a steal that led to Lofton’s 3 that put the Vols up 58-47 and started a 10-2 run. C.J. Watson finished it with a high-arching 3-pointer that barely beat the shot clock, and Tennessee was ahead by 14 with 8:49.
Watson led the Vols with 17 points. Lofton added 12 and Smith had 11.
Ronnie Brewer, who leads the SEC in scoring, was held to nine points.
Download: tennessee box.pdf
