Vols go overtime to oust Bulldogs

From combined dispatches

EAST

No. 2 Tennessee 76, No. 7 Butler 71 (OT)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — JaJuan Smith and the Volunteers lost the lead but not their poise.

Smith hit four straight free throws in the final 13.6 seconds of overtime, and Tennessee (31-4) held on for a win over the Bulldogs (30-4) yesterday in the second round of the NCAA tournament, barely surviving a game they at times threatened to turn into an East Region rout.

The first second-round game featuring two 30-win teams definitely lived up to the distinction.

The Vols scored six straight points inside after the Bulldogs took their first lead in the final two minutes of OT, including benched guard Ramar Smith’s basket with 27 seconds left to make it 72-68.

Butler still wouldn’t go away. Pete Campbell followed a missed shot to make it 72-70 with 16 seconds left. JaJaun Smith then made both free throws, and Julian Betko rebounded a missed 3-pointer by A.J. Graves and was fouled with 4.9 seconds left for Butler. He made one of two shots from the line, and Smith grabbed the rebound before icing the game with foul shots at the other end.

No. 3 Louisville 78, No. 6 Oklahoma 48

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Earl Clark scored 14 points, and the Cardinals (26-8) played to near-perfection on both ends, romping past the Sooners (23-12).

Louisville harassed freshman star Blake Griffin with double teams down low, trapped the Sooners and ran every chance it got.

David Godbold hit four 3s and finished with 15 points for Oklahoma.

No. 1 North Carolina 108, No. 9 Arkansas 77

RALEIGH, N.C. — Wayne Ellington scored 20 points, and the Tar Heels (34-2) raced to a double-digit lead in the first five minutes of a blowout over the Razorbacks (23-12), sending North Carolina to Charlotte for the East Region semifinals.

Ty Lawson had 19 points and seven assists for the Tar Heels, who followed their first-round rout of Mount St. Mary’s with another impressive offensive display.

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