Orange throwers aid Hogs' cause in close defeat

BOB HOLT
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Big Orange didn't let itself get done in by some little oranges or Arkansas.
Tennessee held off a determined effort by Arkansas and also overcame a technical foul resulting from oranges being thrown on the court to beat the Razorbacks 73-66 Wednesday night at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The No. 11 Vols (23-5, 11-4 SEC) were assessed a technical foul with 5:43 left when a fan threw an orange on the floor for the second time in the game.
Arkansas freshman guard Joe Johnson hit both technical free throws to make it 55-55, marking the game's 14th tie.
But the Vols didn't let the orange-throwing antics of a fan among the crowd of 15,212 stop them from setting a school record for victories.
Tennessee senior forward C.J. Black blocked a shot by Chris Walker on Arkansas' possession after Johnson's technical free throws, and sophomore forward Vincent Yarbrough hit a three-pointer to put the Vols ahead for good, 58-55, with 5:19 left.
The Razorbacks (14-14, 6-9) twice pulled within a point in the final four minutes, but they could not force another tie as the Vols finished the game with a 15-7 run, including eight points by junior guard Tony Harris.
Harris led Tennessee with 23 points. He also had two steals in the final minute and turned them into baskets. He finished with 6 assists and 4 steals with 1 turnover in 35 minutes.
"Harris was the man tonight, he made all the plays," Arkansas Coach Nolan Richardson said. "He had the big steals, and when he had to score, he did."
Johnson led Arkansas with 21 points. He hit baskets to tie the score or give the Razorbacks the lead five times in the second half.
"Joe put us on his back tonight," Richardson said. "He kept answering. They'd do something, and Joe came and answered. They'd do something, and Joe came and answered again."
Arkansas freshman guard Blake Eddins had his fourth consecutive strong game and finished with 14 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Walker, a senior guard, added 11 points.
"I feel like they did everything they were supposed to do," Harris said of the Razorbacks. "They gave us trouble throughout the whole game, but I'm just proud that this team really kept its composure and stayed in it."
The Razorbacks' biggest lead in the second half was 49-46 with less than 10 minutes remaining before the Vols came back. Arkansas also led in the second half at Kentucky last Saturday, but the Wildcats rallied to win 60-55.
"I think we've played real well lately, we just haven't been able to finish," Eddins said. "I mean we've been right there on the road with Kentucky and Tennessee, which are two of the toughest places to play in the SEC. We should have won both games."
After Johnson's technical foul free throws tied the game, Tennessee Coach Jerry Green said he told his players, "It's one of those things we don't have control over, and we're going to suck it up and even play better because of it.
"It's one of those times where you can start grumbling, but I thought we came together and played good defense and made some shots inside."
Arkansas had a chance to take the lead on its possession after the technical, but Black's block of Walker's shot turned the momentum.
"That was a foul, they just didn't call it," Walker said. "I guess that got the crowd back into the game and the refs out of it. That energized Tennessee right there."
The Vols -- who got 16 points and 11 rebounds from Yarbrough, 13 points from freshman forward Ron Slay and 10 rebounds, 7 points and 4 blocked shots from Black -- made the big plays at the end that the Razorbacks couldn't.
"Good teams hold it together down the stretch, and we're not doing that right now," Walker said. "That's why we're not winning."
Richardson thought of a three-point attempt by Razorbacks sophomore guard Teddy Gipson that rimmed out with 2:50 left and the Vols leading 63-60.
"We just can't get something to fall at the right time," Richardson said. "But I'm proud of our kids. We played some pretty good basketball."
Richardson said it would have been a travesty if Tennessee had lost because of the technical foul.
"If they lose that ballgame on orange-throwing, give me a break." Richardson said. "Their kids have been busting their butts, they want to win, they've got a chance to win the conference championship, and can you imagine throwing something on the floor to give them an opportunity not to win?"
But the Razorbacks, who have lost four of their last five games -- all to nationally-ranked teams -- to fall to .500 for the first time this season, wouldn't have minded taking advantage of whoever threw the oranges on the court.
"I was glad they threw the oranges," Walker said. "I wish they would have thrown a lot more so we would have gotten more technical shots."
Arkansas finishes the regular season against No. 19 Auburn on Sunday in Walton Arena. The Razorbacks need to beat the Tigers to assure themselves of a winning record going into the SEC Tournament and to be eligible for an NIT bid.
"We've had some tough losses, but we're going to be ready for Auburn," Eddins said. "There's no doubt about that."

This article was published on Thursday, March 2, 2000

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