[UT Vols News]

Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl didn't know what to expect from his team this season. If the season-opener is any indicator, the 25th-ranked Volunteers are poised to build on their success from a year ago. Tennessee looks for another strong showing when it meets Fordham in the opening round of the NIT Season Tip-Off at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville.

The Volunteers (1-0) returned just two starters from last season's squad that went 22-8 and won the SEC East with a 12-4 conference mark. Tennessee's season, though, ended with a second-round loss in the NCAA tournament to Wichita State.

Pearl's team got off to convincing start this time around, building a 20-point lead in the first half Friday en route to an 83-52 win over Middle Tennessee State.

"I've been coaching 15 years. I knew less going into this year because of how young we were, how new we were and how little the exhibition season helped us," said Pearl, whose team improved to 15-0 when scoring 80 or more points. "But I thought we played hard."

VOLS FACE FORDHAM TONIGHT IN NIT SEASON TIP-OFF IN NASHVILLE

[UT Vols News]

Chris Lofton scored 30 points, including 5 3-pointers, in leading the No. 25 Tennessee Volunteers to a 78-71 victory over the Fordham Rams in the first round of the NIT Season Tip-Off at the Gaylord Entertainment Center. Duke Crews was the only other Vol in double figures with 11.

LOFTON'S 30 LEADS VOLS TO 78-71 WIN OVER FORDHAM

[Gotham Dark Knight]

A little short of his 33 points (9 3-pointer) effort against Georgia last year...but a nice game for Loften who was a Wooden Award finalist last year...Is this kid going to be an NBA 1st rounder?