Tennessee whips VMI

Posted 7:26AM on Tuesday 26th November 2002 ( 22 years ago )

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - Tennessee's freshmen were more calm and Ron Slay was his normal self - just what coach Buzz Peterson wanted. Slay scored 19 points and Brandon Crump added 14 and had nine rebounds as the Volunteers (2-0) beat VMI 88-56 Monday night. Tennessee, which needed last-second shots to beat Gardner-Webb 71-69 in their season-opener last week, didn't have as much trouble with the Keydets (1-1). Tennessee shot 31-of-62 from the floor while VMI was 18-of-65. The Vols' freshman point guard, C.J. Watson, added nine points, seven rebounds and eight assists while Stanley Asumnu, another freshman starter, and Thaydeus Holden each scored 11 points. ``The intensity was much better tonight, and the freshmen were more relaxed with their play,'' Peterson said. He attributed some of the difference to Slay, who's known for his emotional play. ``His leadership skills are just unbelievable. It motivates the younger guys and everybody in the locker room,'' Peterson said. Slay became the 36th player in school history to score at least 1,000 points in his career on a basket with eight minutes to go. ``I really didn't know anything about it,'' Slay said. ``But it's a good accomplishment, though.'' The Vols used two quick runs and accurate three-point shooting in the first half to take control. VMI trailed by as many as 17 in the first half, but tried to make a run in the second half and cut the lead to 11 with 14:59 remaining. But the Vols responded with an 11-0 run on a 3-pointer by Thaydeus Holden and three straight baskets by Slay. Slay rolled in a shot off a no-look pass in the paint by C.J. Watson, Tennessee's freshman point guard, to cap the run and put Tennessee up 58-38 with 12:21 left. The Keydets couldn't get any closer. Jason Conley, the top Division I scorer last year as a freshman, averaging 29.3 points a game, was held to 10 points in the first half and finished with 25 on 8-of-23 shooting from the field as the only VMI player in double figures. He made shots from all spots on the floor, including a jumper as he was falling down, as scouts from five NBA teams watched. The Vols often switched defenders on Conley to keep them fresh. ``He's a talented player, who one day will be performing at the next level,'' Peterson said. ``Conley was our main focus. When this team picks up its emphasis on defense, they're not bad.'' Holden and Watson each hit 3-pointers and Crump made a hook shot in an 8-0 run that stretched the lead from two points to 10 with 11:26 left in the first half. Another 3-pointer by Watson keyed another 8-0 run. Slay then hit a 3-pointer and made two free throws to cap the 48-second spurt and give Tennessee a 36-19 lead with 4:44 to go before halftime. VMI got as close as 11 after Tennessee built a double-digit lead, but Asumnu answered with an off-balance 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer. The Vols were 8-of-17 from beyond the arc, with Watson making all three of his attempts, in the first half. Tennessee finished 11-of-26.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/11/187277