No. 22 Tennessee beats USC in OT at Atlantis semifinals
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (AP) Tennessee has twice played without its leading scorer at the Battle 4 Atlantis. It hasn't stopped the 22nd-ranked Volunteers from reaching the championship game.
Julian Phillips scored a season-high 25 points to help Tennessee hold off Southern California 73-66 in overtime in Thursday's semifinals, setting up a matchup with third-ranked and reigning national champion Kansas for the title.
Phillips, a first-year forward, made 7 of 13 shots and 10 of 12 free throws to go with eight rebounds for the Volunteers (4-1), with four of those free throws coming in the OT. It was part of a strong and aggressive performance, one with Wilson being active at both ends.
The Volunteers also got key contributions from Santiago Vescovi, Zakai Zeigler and Olivier Nkamhoua to grind through this one.
''I think this tournament's been great for us,'' coach Rick Barnes said. ''Still haven't got our feet under us totally, but playing against a team like we did yesterday and coming back today against a zone team ... I knew it wouldn't be easy, and it wasn't.''
Tennessee won despite again being without leading scorer Josiah-Jordan James (13.7 points per game) due to soreness in his left knee. He had an offseason procedure on that same joint, and Barnes has said he's day-to-day.
Boogie Ellis scored 21 points in his second big output in as many days to lead the Trojans (4-2), but USC committed 20 turnovers - six in the overtime - that the Volunteers converted into 25 points.
''Our players played hard,'' USC coach Andy Enfield said. ''They played well for most of the game, a lot of the stretches. But some of the turnovers are us getting sped up and some are bad decision making. But it's tough to continuously turn the ball over that many times.''
BIG PICTURE
Tennessee: The Volunteers pulled away in the second half to beat Butler in Wednesday night's final first-round game. This time, Tennessee won despite shooting just 3 for 18 from 3-point range, with Phillips and Nkamhoua (12 points) leading the offense.
''We didn't want to settle for 3s early,'' Barnes said of playing against a zone.
USC: The Trojans beat BYU in Wednesday's first round behind a big performance from Ellis, who scored 21 of his 27 points after the break. But No. 2 scorer Drew Peterson (15.8) had a mistake-filled performance with more turnovers (seven) than rebounds (six) or made baskets (four) and finished with nine points. Still, USC had two chances to win it late in regulation.
''We competed today, we had a chance to win,'' Enfield said. ''Tennessee's a top-25 team and we were right there, had our chances. We're developing and getting better.''
LINE WORK
Tennessee also had an advantage by getting to the foul line.
The Volunteers were whistled for 10 personal fouls and got to the foul line for 26 shots, making 22. The Trojans were charged with 23 fouls and got to the line just eight times, making seven.
''It is frustrating when there's such big discrepancy in the fouls,'' Enfield said. ''I guess they played a really good game without fouling.''
KEY CONTRIBUTIONS
Vescovi finished with seven points on 3-for-13 shooting, but he overcame that rough shooting day to hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:45 left in the extra period.
Zeigler went 4 for 4 at the line in the final 23.7 seconds left of overtime to seal the win.
UP NEXT
Tennessee: The Vols advanced to Friday's championship game to face No. 3 Kansas, which edged Wisconsin in overtime during Thursday's semifinals.
USC: The Trojans will face the Badgers in Friday's third-place game.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Â | Joshua Morgan vs. Uros Plavsic (Trojans gains possession) | Â | |
19:38 | Â | Drew Peterson misses two point jump shot | Â | |
19:36 | Â | Uros Plavsic defensive rebound | Â | |
19:25 | Â | Santiago Vescovi misses two point jump shot | Â | |
19:23 | Â | Joshua Morgan defensive rebound | Â | |
19:00 | Â | Tyreke Key shooting foul (Boogie Ellis draws the foul) | Â | |
19:00 | +1 | Boogie Ellis makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 1-0 | |
19:00 | Â | Boogie Ellis misses regular free throw 2 of 3 | Â | |
19:00 | +1 | Boogie Ellis makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 2-0 | |
18:44 | Â | Joshua Morgan blocks Julian Phillips's two point layup | Â | |
18:42 | Â | Drew Peterson defensive rebound | Â | |
18:31 | Â | Tre White misses three point jump shot | Â | |
18:29 | Â | Santiago Vescovi defensive rebound | Â | |
18:18 | +2 | Tyreke Key makes two point jump shot | 2-2 | |
18:00 | Â | Boogie Ellis misses two point floating jump shot | Â | |
17:58 | Â | Tyreke Key defensive rebound | Â | |
17:58 | Â | Boogie Ellis personal foul | Â | |
17:35 | Â | Reese Dixon-Waters shooting foul (Julian Phillips draws the foul) | Â | |
17:35 | +1 | Julian Phillips makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 2-3 | |
17:35 | +1 | Julian Phillips makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-4 | |
17:14 | +2 | Joshua Morgan makes two point dunk (Drew Peterson assists) | 4-4 | |
16:50 | Â | Joshua Morgan blocks Olivier Nkamhoua's two point layup | Â | |
16:48 | Â | Drew Peterson defensive rebound | Â | |
16:38 | +2 | Boogie Ellis makes two point pullup jump shot | 6-4 | |
16:25 | +3 | Julian Phillips makes three point jump shot (Santiago Vescovi assists) | 6-7 | |
16:08 | Â | Olivier Nkamhoua blocks Tre White's two point reverse layup | Â | |
16:06 | Â | Uros Plavsic defensive rebound | Â | |
15:51 | Â | Boogie Ellis shooting foul | Â | |
15:51 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
15:53 | +1 | Tyreke Key makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 6-8 | |
15:53 | Â | Tyreke Key misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | Â | |
15:50 | Â | Olivier Nkamhoua offensive rebound | Â | |
15:50 | Â | Julian Phillips misses two point layup | Â | |
15:48 | Â | Reese Dixon-Waters defensive rebound | Â | |
15:46 | Â | Reese Dixon-Waters turnover (bad pass) | Â | |
15:31 | +2 | Olivier Nkamhoua makes two point layup (Jonas Aidoo assists) | 6-10 | |
15:00 | Â | Drew Peterson misses two point stepback jump shot | Â | |
14:58 | Â | Kobe Johnson offensive rebound | Â | |
14:53 | +2 | Kobe Johnson makes two point putback layup | 8-10 | |
14:38 | Â | Jonas Aidoo misses two point jump shot | Â | |
14:36 | Â | Jonas Aidoo offensive rebound | Â | |
14:29 | +2 | Olivier Nkamhoua makes two point jump shot (Santiago Vescovi assists) | 8-12 | |
14:20 | Â | Olivier Nkamhoua personal foul | Â | |
14:07 | Â | Reese Dixon-Waters misses two point fadeaway jump shot | Â | |
14:05 | Â | Julian Phillips defensive rebound | Â | |
13:54 | Â | Jahmai Mashack misses two point jump shot | Â | |
13:52 | Â | Drew Peterson defensive rebound | Â | |
13:44 | Â | Drew Peterson misses three point pullup jump shot | Â | |
13:42 | Â | Zakai Zeigler defensive rebound | Â | |
13:22 | +2 | Jahmai Mashack makes two point floating jump shot | 8-14 | |
13:06 | Â | Zakai Zeigler personal foul | Â | |
13:04 | +3 | Kobe Johnson makes three point jump shot (Joshua Morgan assists) | 11-14 | |
12:54 | +2 | Jahmai Mashack makes two point driving reverse layup (Santiago Vescovi assists) | 11-16 | |
12:23 | Â | Drew Peterson turnover (bad pass) (Jonas Aidoo steals) | Â | |
12:14 | Â | Santiago Vescovi misses three point jump shot | Â | |
12:12 | Â | Kobe Johnson defensive rebound | Â | |
12:01 | Â | Joshua Morgan misses two point hook shot | Â | |
11:59 | Â | Olivier Nkamhoua defensive rebound | Â | |
11:52 | Â | Zakai Zeigler misses three point pullup jump shot | Â | |
11:50 | Â | Joshua Morgan defensive rebound | Â | |
11:50 | Â | Joshua Morgan turnover (lost ball) | Â | |
11:48 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
11:44 | Â | Malik Thomas personal foul (Zakai Zeigler draws the foul) | Â | |
11:28 | Â | Jahmai Mashack turnover (lost ball) (Kobe Johnson steals) | Â | |
11:10 | Â | Reese Dixon-Waters turnover (bad pass) (Jonas Aidoo steals) | Â | |
11:01 | Â | Jonas Aidoo misses three point jump shot | Â | |
10:59 | Â | Kijani Wright defensive rebound | Â | |
10:47 | +2 | Reese Dixon-Waters makes two point pullup jump shot | 13-16 | |
10:28 | +2 | Olivier Nkamhoua makes two point turnaround jump shot (Zakai Zeigler assists) | 13-18 | |
10:07 | Â | Malik Thomas offensive foul | Â | |
10:07 | Â | Malik Thomas turnover (offensive foul) | Â | |
9:52 | Â | Kijani Wright personal foul (Uros Plavsic draws the foul) | Â | |
9:47 | +2 | Julian Phillips makes two point cutting layup (Zakai Zeigler assists) | 13-20 | |
9:29 | Â | Kobe Johnson misses three point jump shot | Â | |
9:27 | Â | Uros Plavsic defensive rebound | Â | |
9:21 | Â | Kobe Johnson blocks Tyreke Key's two point layup | Â | |
9:19 | Â | Malik Thomas defensive rebound | Â | |
9:11 | +2 | Kijani Wright makes two point layup (Kobe Johnson assists) | 15-20 | |
8:53 | +2 | Olivier Nkamhoua makes two point hook shot (Uros Plavsic assists) | 15-22 | |
8:37 | +2 | Kobe Johnson makes two point cutting layup (Drew Peterson assists) | 17-22 | |
8:25 | Â | Zakai Zeigler turnover (bad pass) (Malik Thomas steals) | Â | |
8:20 | Â | Drew Peterson turnover (traveling) | Â | |
8:06 | Â | Olivier Nkamhoua turnover (3-second violation) | Â | |
7:55 | Â | Boogie Ellis turnover (lost ball) (Santiago Vescovi steals) | Â | |
7:48 | Â | Santiago Vescovi misses two point layup | Â | |
7:46 | Â | Julian Phillips offensive rebound | Â | |
7:41 | +2 | Julian Phillips makes two point putback layup | 17-24 | |
7:30 | +3 | Boogie Ellis makes three point jump shot | 20-24 | |
7:10 | Â | Santiago Vescovi misses two point jump shot | Â | |
7:08 | Â | Boogie Ellis defensive rebound | Â | |
6:48 | Â | Joshua Morgan misses two point hook shot | Â | |
6:46 | Â | Joshua Morgan offensive rebound | Â | |
6:39 | Â | Drew Peterson turnover (bad pass) (Uros Plavsic steals) | Â | |
6:19 | Â | Olivier Nkamhoua misses two point turnaround jump shot | Â | |
6:17 | Â | Joshua Morgan defensive rebound | Â | |
5:55 | Â | Reese Dixon-Waters misses two point driving layup | Â | |
5:53 | Â | Kobe Johnson offensive rebound | Â | |
5:48 | +2 | Kobe Johnson makes two point putback layup | 22-24 | |
5:22 | Â | Kobe Johnson shooting foul | Â | |
5:22 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
5:22 | +1 | Julian Phillips makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-25 | |
5:22 | +1 | Julian Phillips makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-26 | |
5:09 | +3 | Boogie Ellis makes three point pullup jump shot | 25-26 | |
4:38 | Â | Joshua Morgan blocks Julian Phillips's two point layup | Â | |
4:36 | Â | Reese Dixon-Waters defensive rebound | Â | |
4:30 | Â | Reese Dixon-Waters turnover (Jahmai Mashack steals) | Â | |
4:21 | Â | Santiago Vescovi misses three point jump shot | Â | |
4:19 | Â | Jonas Aidoo offensive rebound | Â | |
4:12 | Â | Jonas Aidoo misses two point layup | Â | |
4:10 | Â | Jonas Aidoo offensive rebound | Â | |
4:06 | +2 | Jonas Aidoo makes two point jump shot | 25-28 | |
3:57 | +2 | Boogie Ellis makes two point pullup jump shot | 27-28 | |
3:39 | Â | Jonas Aidoo misses two point turnaround jump shot | Â | |
3:37 | Â | Trojans defensive rebound | Â | |
3:37 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
3:30 | Â | Jump ball. Reese Dixon-Waters vs. Zakai Zeigler (Volunteers gains possession) | Â | |
3:30 | Â | Reese Dixon-Waters turnover (lost ball) (Zakai Zeigler steals) | Â | |
3:03 | +2 | Santiago Vescovi makes two point pullup jump shot | 27-30 | |
2:39 | Â | Reese Dixon-Waters misses two point jump shot | Â | |
2:37 | Â | Jonas Aidoo defensive rebound | Â | |
2:33 | Â | Kijani Wright personal foul | Â | |
2:33 | +1 | Jonas Aidoo makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 27-31 | |
2:33 | +1 | Jonas Aidoo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 27-32 | |
2:08 | +2 | Tre White makes two point pullup jump shot | 29-32 | |
1:48 | +2 | Julian Phillips makes two point turnaround jump shot (Santiago Vescovi assists) | 29-34 | |
1:30 | Â | Boogie Ellis misses three point pullup jump shot | Â | |
1:28 | Â | Kijani Wright offensive rebound | Â | |
1:21 | Â | Boogie Ellis misses three point stepback jump shot | Â | |
1:19 | Â | Drew Peterson offensive rebound | Â | |
1:17 | Â | Jahmai Mashack personal foul | Â | |
1:17 | Â | Boogie Ellis turnover (bad pass) (Jahmai Mashack steals) | Â | |
1:13 | +2 | Jahmai Mashack makes two point dunk | 29-36 | |
1:13 | Â | Joshua Morgan shooting foul (Jahmai Mashack draws the foul) | Â | |
1:13 | Â | Trojans 30 second timeout | Â | |
1:13 | +1 | Jahmai Mashack makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 29-37 | |
0:59 | +2 | Tre White makes two point stepback jump shot | 31-37 | |
0:46 | Â | Joshua Morgan blocks Jonas Aidoo's two point reverse layup | Â | |
0:44 | Â | Tre White defensive rebound | Â | |
0:39 | Â | Boogie Ellis turnover (bad pass) (Jahmai Mashack steals) | Â | |
0:10 | Â | Zakai Zeigler misses three point jump shot | Â | |
0:08 | Â | Kobe Johnson defensive rebound | Â | |
0:00 | +3 | Boogie Ellis makes three point stepback jump shot | 34-37 | |
0:00 | Â | End of period | Â |