JaJuan Smith scored a career-high 21 points, and No. 25 Tennessee beat UNC-Wilmington 87-75 Tuesday night in the South Region championship of the NIT Season Tip-off.
Tennessee improved to 3-0 for a second straight season and will play Butler on Nov. 22 in the semifinals at New York.
The Vols, a young team starting two freshmen and playing four more, showed they can play the pressure-packed, stingy defense coach Bruce Pearl wants. They forced UNC Wilmington (1-1) into 32 turnovers, with 13 coming off steals as the Vols pushed the tempo.
NEW YORK! NEW YORK! VOLS HEAD TO BIG APPLE AFTER DOWNING UNC-WILMINGTON 87-75