ForumsSimilar situation. Similar result.
With the outcome resting on the game’s final possession, once again Tennessee found itself holding the short end of the stick as Mississippi State defeated the Vols 70-69 at Thompson Boling Arena on Saturday night.
After a scramble for a missed Scotty Hopson free throw that would have tied the game with 13 seconds remaining, Mississippi State knocked the ball out of bounds under the Tennessee basket.
Bruce Pearl called a timeout with 12 seconds left to draw up a game-winning play.
“I was confident in that timeout that we could get a basket; we could get a good look,” Bruce Pearl said.
The play worked and Tennessee did get a good look, as Tobias Harris slipped off a screen and dunked the inbounds pass from Josh Bone to put the Vols on top.
“We brought Scotty off that screen,” Pearl said. “This time, we had Tobias set that last screen. He did a great job of setting the screen and slipping in there.”
“The inbounds play was to get Scotty open,” Tobias Harris added. “We figured that my man might jump over and try to guard him and I’d be open. It was a great play.”
With just seconds remaining and the Vols holding a one-point lead, Bruce Pearl was certain his team could make one last defensive stop.
“When Tobias makes that basket with whatever number of time — this is it. We are going to get a stop here or somebody’s going to block a shot. Somebody’s going to make a play.”
But a defensive lapse allowed Mississippi State’s Dee Bost to drive into the lane and dish to a wide-open Wendell Lewis, who made a two-handed dunk and drew a foul with just over three seconds remaining.
Scotty Hopson rebounded the missed free throw, but was unable to knock down a half-court heave as time expired.
Hopson finished 22 points and seven rebounds, while Tobias Harris added 16 points and eight boards. But beyond those two, the Vols struggled to find offensive contributions.
“I’ve got two really good offensive players in Scotty and Tobias,” Pearl noted after the game. “They are two really good offensive players, and everybody else has got limitations in their offensive games.”
With the loss, Tennessee (17-12, 7-7 SEC) falls to just 10-7 at home this season.
“The home crowds have been great. And again, I apologize to our fans,” Pearl said. “Again, they come out in unbelievable numbers and they will be back Sunday for Kentucky — there’s no question in my mind — but the home crowd has not elevated our play.”
“The home crowd should inspire the home team, and it’s just not doing it.”
With just two games remaining in the regular season, Tennessee may have played itself back on to the NCAA Tournament bubble.
Desperately needing a win, the Vols next travel to Columbia on Thursday to face South Carolina, a team they defeated in Knoxville less than two weeks ago by a score of 73-67.
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