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By CHUCK BARTELS
Associated Press Writer
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- Ronnie Brewer scored 23 points Saturday for Arkansas, but it was the late-game scoring of Charles Thomas and Eric Ferguson that helped the Razorbacks to a 70-68 victory over Tennessee.
Tennessee (12-15, 5-9 Southeastern Conference) had a chance to tie as time ran out. But the game's high scorer, Chris Lofton, passed on a shot to C.J. Watson, who missed just before the buzzer.
A pair of free throws by Arkansas' Olu Famutimi with 4:38 to play tied the game at 64-64. After a miss by Lofton, Ferguson hit a 3-pointer for a 67-64 lead for Arkansas (18-9, 6-8).
Watson moved Tennessee within a point at the 3:19 mark, 67-66, but Thomas responded with a basket 20 seconds later to extend the Razorbacks' lead to 69-66.
Lofton, who finished with 30 points, moved left to right in the lane and missed a shot with 2:17 to play, but Brandon Crump was able to draw the Volunteers within a point again. He twirled under the basket against a double-team, briefly lost the ball, then put it in to cut to 69-68 with 59 seconds to play.
Tennessee fouled with 23 seconds left, and Dontell Jefferson made one of two free throws for the final measure.
Brewer again put up the biggest numbers for the Razorbacks. He pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds, had two steals and contributed six assists. Famutimi scored 14 and Thomas had nine for Arkansas.
Lofton was 7-of-14 from 3-point range for the game, though late in the contest he tried to work the ball more inside. Andre Patterson and Crump each scored 11 for the Vols, and Patterson led the team with eight rebounds.
Arkansas turned the ball over 14 times to nine for the Vols, but Arkansas had the rebounding advantage 38-32.
