Tennessee upsets No. 8 Syracuse, 66-62

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Posted 8:08AM on Sunday, January 20, 2002

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - Jenis Grindstaff scored a career-high 18 points, including two free throws in the final seconds, as Tennessee pulled out a 66-62 win over No. 8 Syracuse on Saturday night. The Volunteers (7-9), who had lost seven other times this season in games decided by five points or fewer, finally came away with a close one. The loss ended Syracuse's seven-game winning streak. It wasn't easy - and they had to do it without starting forward Ron Slay in the second half. The Orangemen (16-3), who came back from a 17-point deficit at halftime, regained the lead midway through the second half and kept the Volunteers close. Grindstaff, who started as point guard for the first time this season, hit a 3-pointer with 7:18 left, and Tennessee held on despite horrible second-half shooting. Syracuse's Preston Shumpert, who scored just two points in the first half, finished with 17 points. His basket with 6:32 left brought Syracuse within one, and the Orangemen got as close as 56-55 with 5:42 to go. But with the Vols this season no close game was certain until the buzzer. Tennessee got a cushion with an inside basket by Elgrace Wilborn and a tap-in by Brandon Crump to set up the last-second dramatics. Ahead 62-60 with a minute to go, Grindstaff missed a 3, but Jon Higgins pulled down the rebound. Grindstaff was then fouled and made two free throws with 25 seconds left. Tennessee fouled two Syracuse players over the next 10 seconds before Shumpert missed and Higgins got the rebound. Higgins was fouled with 9.9 seconds and made one free throw, giving Syracuse a little hope. Syracuse's DeShaun Williams was fouled trying to make a 3, but missed the last of three free throws. Grindstaff got the rebound with 5.9 seconds left to seal it. As the game ended, students spilled onto the floor to celebrate the first big win of coach Buzz Peterson's tenure at Tennessee. It came at a cost. Team officials said Slay had possibly torn his left anterior cruciate ligament. He will have an MRI on Monday. Coming into the game, the Vols lost six of their last seven by a total of 14 points. Marcus Haislip added 15 points and seven rebounds and Higgins added 11 points and nine rebounds for Tennessee, which had its three-game losing streak snapped. Williams finished with 18 points for the Orangemen, who also lost to Tennessee a year ago. Syracuse was down by 17 at halftime, but went on a 26-7 run to start the second half. Tennessee shot 57 percent in the first half but was only 7-of-38 in the second half. The Vols missed dunks, rebound baskets and 3-pointers. Yarbrough, the Southeastern Conference's leading scorer, looked like the Tennessee player most frustrated by Syracuse's 2-3 zone defense. He was 1-of-14 from the floor and 0-for-7 beyond the arc. The Vols got their large first-half lead with a 15-3 run. Grindstaff hit a 3 and Yarbrough converted Higgins' alley-oop pass to start it. Tennessee was ahead 33-19 after Haislip missed a dunk and Higgins made a 3 off the rebound bounce. During the run, Slay was injured. He was fouled in the lane and fell to the floor, grabbing his left knee. Slay was helped off the court by a trainer and Yarbrough with 4:39 to go.