By Matt Dixon
Correspondent
KNOXVILLE – The final tune-up for the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team turned into an “embarrassment” Monday night.
NCAA Division II member Indianapolis stood toe-to-toe with the 23rd-ranked Volunteers in the first half and used an early second-half run to pull away for a 79-64 upset victory.
“Obviously very disappointed with our effort, disappointed with the progress that we’ve made, the lack of progress,” UT coach Bruce Pearl said following the game. “The first half went about as I would’ve expected it to go, short of not doing a better job at the foul line. We had way too many unforced turnovers, should’ve had much more of a commanding lead, and then in the second half we let them get out 11-0 and then 22-3.”
The Vols led 40-32 at halftime, but the Greyhounds led by as many as 15 points in the second half and held UT scoreless the final 2:57.
“They had a purpose; they had chemistry; they were better coached; they knew exactly what they wanted to do and how to execute their game plan,” Pearl said. “Defensively, we didn’t have great effort, we didn’t have great energy, and all of that is my fault.
“We’ve got to put that all on the coach. I’ve got to get them ready to play, and I’ve got to get them excited about playing. Indianapolis was much more excited about playing Tennessee, and it showed.”
Junior guard Cameron Tatum led the Vols with 15 points. Freshman Tobais Harris notched a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Harris said the players were in a bit of shock in the locker room after the game.
“Just quiet and disappointed and embarrassed ’cause we didn’t come out to play today. We really didn’t come out to play,” he said. “That team, they basically just took our heart out there. They played with a lot of passion – you have to give them credit – but … we didn’t handle our business.”
UT committed 25 turnovers and shot just 22-of-50 from the field, including just 9-of-29 (24.1 percent) from 3-point range.
Junior guard Scotty Hopson was a non-factor, playing just nine minutes and scoring three points. He committed three fouls in the first half and fouled out with 6:55 left in the game and UT trailing 67-54.
Post players Brian Williams and Josh Fields combined for just seven points and took only two shots from the field.
“We had a hard time getting the ball into the post and had a hard time holding the ball in the post,” Pearl said. “Brian Williams and Josh Fields were each one-for-one, but they each had three turnovers. So that’s six turnovers to try and get the ball in there some way.”
The Vols tip off their regular season Friday at home against UT-Chattanooga.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do, with a lot of new guys,” Pearl said.
Contact Matt Dixon at sports@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6273.