NCAA South: Tennessee toughs out 63-58 win

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - In what had been a rough and physical game, a light touch ended up deciding it.<br><br>Tony Harris made two free throws with 10.8 seconds to play to help Tennessee seal a 63-58 victory

Friday, March 17th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - In what had been a rough and physical game, a light touch ended up deciding it.

Tony Harris made two free throws with 10.8 seconds to play to help Tennessee seal a 63-58 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette on Friday in the first round of the NCAA South Region.

The free throws ended a controversial sequence that cost the 13th-seeded Ragin Cajuns' (25-9) a chance to upset the fourth-seeded Volunteers (25-6).

Louisiana-Lafayette cut Tennessee's lead to two at 60-58 on Brett Smith's jumper with 45 seconds to play. With the shot clock running down, Harris made a move to the basket and appeared to turn the ball over to Smith.

But Smith was called for a questionable reach-in foul that sent Harris to the line with 15 seconds to play. He missed the front end of the 1-and-1, Ron Slay got the rebound and was flagrantly fouled by Smith with 13 seconds to go - allowing Tennessee to keep the ball after the free throws.

After Slay missed both free throws, Tennessee inbounded to Harris, who was promptly fouled. Harris, 4-for-14 from the field, hit both shots to prevent the Volunteers from yet another NCAA tournament early exit.

The Vols have not advanced past the second round in their previous 11 tournament appearances.

Five techincal fouls were called - both teams were hit with double-technicals for shoving in the first half - and both coaches were brought together seven minutes into the game by the referees.

Tennessee trailed most of the game - and by as many as 12 - but took the lead for good at 56-54 on Slay's jumper with 4:07 to play.

Harris and Slay led Tennessee with 15 points each. C.J. Black added 14 and Vincent Yarborough scored 11.

Lonnie Thomas led Louisiana-Lafayette with 19 points. Orlando Brown scored 12, but only two in the second half.