KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Trae Golden, playing in place of an injured Melvin Goins, hit a pair of free throws with 7.2 seconds left and No. 24 Tennessee beat Missouri State 60-56 in the second round of the NIT Season Tip-Off on Wednesday night.
Tennessee (3-0) had a seven-point lead with 27.9 seconds left off a pair of foul shots by Cameron Tatum, but Jermaine Mallett hit a 3-pointer to make it 57-53 with 19.7 seconds left.
Missouri State’s Adam Leonard answered another pair of Tatum free throws with a 3-point shot to cut the Vols’ lead to 58-56 with 8.3 seconds left. Corey Copeland fouled Golden hard, sending him to the floor, but the Bears wouldn’t score again after his free throws.
Tobias Harris led the Vols with 15 points, and Kyle Weems scored 18 for Missouri State.
Tennessee advances to face Virginia Commonwealth in the semifinals New York City on Nov. 24.
