Sun Mar 23 17:30:30 2008

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Tennessee overcomes Butler in OT

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Birmingham, AL (Sports Network) - Wayne Chism scored 16 points, including the go-ahead basket in overtime, as Tennessee picked up a thrilling 76-71 win over Butler in the second round out of the East Region of the NCAA Tournament.

Tyler Smith posted 15 points and eight rebounds, and JaJuan Smith scored 11 for the second-seeded Volunteers (31-4), who will face either Louisville or Oklahoma in the Sweet 16 on Thursday in Charlotte. Chris Lofton and J.P.Prince each tallied nine points for Tennessee, and Prince added seven boards and five assists.

A.J. Graves scored a game-high 21 for the Bulldogs (30-4). Mike Green added 15 points, seven boards and five assists for Butler, while Pete Campbell was held to 12 points after his 26-point eruption in Butler's first-round win over South Alabama.

After trailing by as many as 13 in the first half, the Bulldogs clawed back and tied the game at 60 with 2 1/2 minutes left in regulation. Neither team could push across the winning basket in the waning moments of the second half, forcing overtime.

After a back-and-forth overtime session that saw Butler claim its first lead of the game, consecutive baskets by Ramar Smith and Chism gave Tennessee a 70-68 edge with 53.9 seconds left in overtime.

Chism swatted away a running layup from Graves on Butler's next possession, and after a timeout the Vols broke Butler's full court pressure when Lofton found Ramar Smith for a layup with 26.6 seconds to play, and Tennessee clinched its trip to the second weekend at the free throw line.