Lofton Answers At The Half
BIRMINGHAM - Bruce Pearl pulled Chris Lofton and Wayne Chism out of the game on what was thought to be the last possession of the half. Someone missed an assignment and Pete Campbell was left all alone on the wing.
Campbell drained the trey to cut it down to 1, but Pearl subbed Lofton back in the game.
On cue, Lofton came off a ball screen to nail the trifecta and push the UT lead out to 4 at the half, 38-34.
There were 23 fouls in the first half -- 13 on UT, 10 on Butler. Lofton, Chism and Tyler Smith have 2, while Ramar Smith has 3. Campbell, Mike Green and Matt Howard have 2 for Butler.
After starting 0-for-4 from downtown, A.J. Graves has hit his last three 3-balls to boost Butler back into the game. Campbell hasn't lost his stroke since Friday as the sharpshooter is 3-for-5 from deep and has 10 points at the half.
Lofton only logged 9 minutes due to the foul situation, but he was 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. Jujuan Smith, normally know for his 3-point barrages, made a couple of baskets in the paint. He has to lead Tennesee. UT is 4-of-9 from 3-point land, while Butler is 6-of-14.
UT led by as may as 13 early in the game. Butler cut it to 1 with Campbell's 3 late in the half before Lofton pushed it back to 4.
J.P. Prince has taken over as the lead man at point guard for UT. Yesterday's starter, Jordan Howell, has not even played. Prince has five points, four assists and three turnovers in 16 minutes of action.
