KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Chris Lofton scored 19 points Tuesday night to lead Tennessee to a 93-68 win over Alabama A<br>
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The Volunteers (7-1) spent last week in the Top 25 for the first time since late in the 2000-01 season after they beat then-No. 6 Texas 95-78. But Tennessee dropped out of the rankings this week following an 89-73 loss at Oklahoma State.<br>
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The Vols rebounded from their only loss of the season in their second home game this month.<br>
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Alabama A (2-4), coming off losses at Vanderbilt and Nebraska, kept pace with Tennessee in the first half, trailing by six with 3:46 left before halftime.<br>
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But the Vols expanded their 13-point halftime lead to 24 in the first 5.5 minutes of the second half. Andre Patterson had a lay-in, then stole the Bulldogs' inbound pass under his basket and completed a three-point play to start the half. Major Wingate had two dunks during the span, and Tennessee was in control.<br>
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The Vols pushed their lead to 30 halfway through the period.<br>
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Lofton scored 17 points by halftime and was 5-of-9 from beyond the arc for the game. JaJuan Smith and C.J. Watson each scored 16 points, a career high for Smith, Stanley Asumnu had 15 points and Patterson grabbed 14 rebounds for Tennessee.<br>
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Alabama A was led by Joe Martin's career-high 27 points. He was 11-of-16 from the field. Obie Trotter and Michael Ford had 12 points apiece.<br>
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Tennessee had a flurry of fast-break scoring that stretched their lead to 15 in the final minute of the first half. Lofton had layup on a breakaway and then he passed ahead to Asumnu for a basket on the next fast break that put the Vols ahead 45-30.<br>
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(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
