Tennessee eases past Louisiana-Monroe 85-62

Tennessee guard Trae Golden (11) shoots the ball during an NCAA college basketball game against Louisiana-Monroe in the first half on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011, in Knoxville, Tenn. Golden scored eight points with one rebound during the first half. (Adam Brimer/AP Photo/The News Sentinel, Adam Brimer)

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Trae Golden scored 17 points as Tennessee found its niche in the second half to beat Louisiana-Monroe 85-62 on Wednesday night.

The game featured eight lead changes before the Volunteers (2-0) outscored their visitors 52-29 after intermission.

Tennessee opened the contest with a 9-0 lead before the Warhawks (0-3) battled back in the latter portion of the first half. Louisiana-Monroe scored seven unanswered points to go up 16-15 after a Fred Brown 3-pointer with 10:25 on the clock.

That advantage lasted just 44 seconds before Skylar McBee countered for Tennessee with a 3-pointer of his own. Golden followed with a pair of free throws to put the hosts up 20-16 at the 8:59 mark, but the score differential only narrowed from there and the teams were knotted at 33-all at the break.

Fabio Ribeiro's bucket with 13:45 to play in the second half gave Louisiana-Monroe a 48-46 lead. Then Tennessee countered with a 9-0 run that was capped by a McBee 3-pointer with 11:26 on the clock.

Tennessee didn't trail again.

Dwight Miller's jumper at the 10:46 mark sparked a 17-5 scoring binge for the Vols, leaving them comfortably in front 72-55.

McBee finished with 15 points for the Volunteers, including 5 of 9 from 3-point range. Cameron Tatum contributed 13 points with three 3s. Jeronne Maymon's double-double included 11 points and 11 rebounds. Josh Richardson pitched in 11 points.

Tennessee won the rebounding battle 46-27 and got a pair of blocks from both Kenny Hall and Jordan McRae.

Brown paced Louisiana-Monroe with 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting. Hugh Mingo provided 11 points and seven rebounds.

Updated November 16, 2011