PROVIDENCE, R.I. — J.P. Prince scored 18 points, and Brian Williams and Wayne Chism had 12 rebounds apiece Saturday to lead sixth- seeded Tennessee to an 83-68 victory against No. 14 seed Ohio on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Tommy Freeman scored 23 points for Ohio, which was the lowest seed to get out of the first round.
Each of Saturday’s games in Providence matched a double-digit seed against a team from a power conference. But one-half hour after tiny Saint Mary’s knocked off Villanova — a No. 2 seed and a Final Four participant in 2009 — Ohio failed in its attempt to be just the third No. 14 seed to reach the Sweet 16 since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985.
The Bobcats (22-15) trailed by six points midway through the second half before the Vols went on a 10-1 run.
Scotty Hopson scored 17 points for Tennessee, which continues its remarkable run since four players were arrested on New Year’s Day — three of them were suspended, and starter Tyler Smith was kicked off the team — in a traffic stop that resulted in gun, drug and alcohol charges.
