Coll. of Charleston 71, Tennessee 65

Coll. of Charleston 71, Tennessee 65

Published Dec. 15, 2011 4:28 a.m. ET

Antwaine Wiggins matched his career high with 24 points and College of Charleston beat Tennessee for the second straight year, 71-65, on Wednesday night.

The Cougars (8-1) were down 13 points in the opening half, but used a 13-0 run midway through the final period to take control and send the Volunteers (3-6) to their fourth consecutive loss and sixth in the past seven games.

Wiggins scored 16 of his points after the break for the Cougars, who last season defeated Tennessee 91-78 and earlier this season won at Clemson, 72-69. Andrew Lawrence added 14 points for Charleston.

Jordan McRae led Tennessee with 19 points. He hit a 3-pointer with 1:00 left that cut the Cougars' lead to 68-65, but the Vols couldn't get any closer.

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Wiggins scored the first two baskets of the second half as Charleston tightened up its defense and cut Tennessee's lead to two. The Cougars were still trailing 47-43 after Jerome Maymon's inside bucket when they began their run.

Lawrence started it with a jumper and Wiggins followed with a steal and layin to tie the game. Wiggins made two more baskets and Matt Sunberg a 3-pointer. By the time Lawrence hit a pair of foul shots with 9:28 left, Charleston was out front for good, 56-47.

Charleston found the same mojo it used a year ago in upsetting the Vols in Knoxville at its sold-out arena. But it was Tennessee who came out on fire, Skylar McBee hitting back-to-back 3-pointers to kick off a 19-5 run in the middle of the opening period to build a 28-15 lead.

The Cougars got going in the final five minutes, though, with Lawrence scoring eight points down the stretch as Charleston got Tennessee's edge down to 37-33 at the break.

Still, the Cougars had few answers for Tennessee's quickness and power underneath and forwards Miller and Maymon took full advantage. Maymon had a power jam and another basket in the Vols' first-half run, as well as four rebounds.

Miller, the 6-foot-8 junior, surpassed his career best of eight points by going 6 of 8 in the opening period. He also added six rebounds, four on the offensive glass, and two blocks to keep Charleston off balance.

It was Miller's straightaway 3-pointer with 31.5 seconds left - his first of the season - that regained control for the Vols after Charleston had made two straight 3s.

That changed dramatically in the second half. The Vols made only three baskets the first 15 minutes during the Charleston run that gave the Cougars control. Miller, who gave Charleston so much trouble the first 20 minutes, was held scoreless the rest of the way.

Wiggins finished 10 of 12 from the field and tied the career high in points he set against Samford last February.

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