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  Monday, Nov. 27 7:30pm ET
Harris powers Vols to 4-0 start
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tennessee's Tony Harris played like the 20 NBA scouts came just to watch him.

Harris scored 20 points to lead six Volunteers in double figures and had a career-high 12 assists as Tennessee (No. 7 ESPN/USA Today, AP) beat Austin Peay 98-65 Monday night.

Nick Stapleton
Tony Harris (14) scored 20 points for the Vols, but his career-high 12 assists won him more praise.

"Tony Harris alone is worth the price of admission," Tennessee coach Jerry Green said.

But the scouts were here to see Austin Peay's leading scorer Trenton Hassell, who finished with 22 points. Harris, who had just one turnover and threw three alley oops to Isiah Victor, wasn't paying attention to them.

"That wasn't in my mind," he said. "If I was thinking about that I wouldn't have played the way I did. I'll do everything I can for this team. I'm just trying to win."

Harris, who has been criticized in the past for not sharing the ball, said he has asserted himself this year to help the Vols (4-0) improve on last year's run to the NCAA tournament's regional semifinals.

"From day one, I said I would do everything I can and sacrifice. If I have to get a ball up 100 times and not score points, that's what I'll do," Harris said.

Vincent Yarbrough scored 15 points and Marcus Haislip added 14 for the Volunteers, who have won 32 straight non-conference home games. Harris Walker scored 12 points, and Victor and Jon Higgins scored 11 apiece.

Austin Peay (4-1), the preseason pick to win the Ohio Valley Conference, has never beaten the Vols and lost for the first time this season after the school's best start in 15 years. Nick Stapleton added eight points for the Governors.

Austin Peay kept the game close early, cutting the Vols' lead to three at 28-25 on Kevin Easley's basket with 7:33 to go before halftime. That was as close as the Governors would get the rest of the way.

Tennessee pulled away with a 23-9 run to finish the first half with a 17-point lead. Harris led the first-half charge with 15 points and nine assists. During the run he connected with Victor on three straight alley oops, with the third making it 39-27 with 4:51 remaining.

Ahead 51-34 at halftime, Tennessee started the second half with a 19-5 run to take a 31-point lead. A 3-pointer by Hassell ended a 3½-minute scoreless drought for Austin Peay, but that would be his last basket of the game.

"We did a better job on Trenton Hassell in the second half. He's a heck of a player," Green said.

NBA scouts, including Chicago Bulls general manager Jerry Krause, attended the game, the only matchup between Austin Peay and a current Top 25 team the rest of the regular season.

Hassell, who was averaging 23.2 points per game, had 15 points in the first half, shooting 6-for-11 from the floor. He made just two more baskets the rest of the way.

Austin Peay coach Dave Loos said the Vols lived up to his expectations.

"We played Arizona 11 years ago when they were No. 1 or No. 2, and this game was a lot like that one," Loos said. "Tennessee made a run on us early, and we came apart."

Tennessee is 36-2 all-time against teams from the Ohio Valley Conference.
 


ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard

Austin Peay Clubhouse

Tennessee Clubhouse