KNOXVILLE — The reign of raining 3-pointers in Thompson-Boling Arena finished in appropriate fashion.

Senior snipers Chris Lofton and JaJuan Smith went on an early second-half tear Sunday to lift the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team to an 89-56 win over South Carolina.

UT’s dynamic duo couldn’t leave the floor together for a final time — Smith fouled out with 3:30 to go — but they had already carved up Carolina.

Volunteers coach Bruce Pearl called a timeout 20 seconds later to remove Lofton, who had 28 points on six 3-pointers, the last one giving his team an 84-51 lead.

That lead swelled to 89-51 before the Gamecocks hit three consecutive baskets against UT’s walk-ons. Before those buckets, the fourth-ranked Vols — who led by only one point at the break — outscored South Carolina 51-13 in the second half.

“We came out colder than the frigid Smoky Mountains to start the second half,” South Carolina coach Dave Odom said. “We could not make a shot, and they came out on fire ... We really got fatigued and flamed out.”

Confetti fell from the rafters as a championship banner was unveiled moments after the final game. UT players and coaches cut down the nets to celebrate their first outright Southeastern Conference championship in 41 seasons.

Smith and his teammates wore T-shirts that said, “Outright SEC champions: 41 years in the making.”

“There’s a first time for everything,” Smith joked. “This was just a great day, from when I woke up to now, cutting down nets and hanging up banners. It’s just been a long road.

“You couldn’t ask to go out with a better bang.”

In the last of their 32 consecutive home victories, Lofton hit six of his 10 3-point attempts and Smith added 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals on 4-of-9 shooting from the perimeter. Lofton added four steals in his 28 minutes.

“I really didn’t sleep at all last night,” Lofton said. “I kept thinking about how this was the last time I was coming in this arena for a game. Then when I got here, it was my last shoot-around before a home game. It was different.

“It hasn’t really sunk in for me yet, but it’s getting there.”

Fellow senior Jordan Howell left the court a final time with 2:03 left. He didn’t score, but had three rebounds, two assists and two steals in 21 minutes after starting in place of sophomore Ramar Smith.

“It was emotional for all of us (seniors),” Howell said. “My mom was crying, and so were Chris’ mom and JaJuan’s mom. It was neat to see the things we’ve been able to accomplish here. I’m just thankful to be able to play my career with JaJuan and Chris.”

It was UT’s largest SEC margin of victory since a 98-60 pasting of Ole Miss on Jan. 15, 2000. The Vols (28-3, 14-2 SEC) beat South Carolina (13-17, 5-11) twice this season by a combined 59 points.

Smith also starred defensively, holding Gamecocks star point guard Devan Downey to two points on 1-of-9 shooting in 29 minutes. Entering Sunday, Downey was third in the league at 18.9 points per game.

“JaJuan has established himself as one of the best defensive guards in the league, in the country,” Pearl said. “Downey was an opportunity for him to make another statement. Few guys can keep Downey in front of them, and JaJuan can.

“There’s something to be said for a guard who can do that.”

Lofton was the lone bright spot in a lackadaisical first half, hitting three 3s and scoring 13 points. The rest of the Vols combined to shoot 9-of-25 from the floor.

Mike Holmes’ inside presence and Evaldas Baniulis’ perimeter precision kept the Gamecocks close early. Holmes had 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting at the half but finished with just 15, while Baniulis was shut out after a nine-point first half.

UT had nine turnovers in the first half.

“We did everything we wanted to in the first half except having too many turnovers,” Odom said. “Then we took some ill-advised shots to start the second half, and they got those (Lofton and JaJuan Smith) out of the barn ... and we could not corral them.”

UT will travel to Atlanta after classes Wednesday to prepare for its Friday SEC tournament opener. The Vols will play the LSU-South Carolina winner on Friday at 1 p.m.