Smith scores 14, including 2 free throws in closing seconds of Vols’ 57-53 win

Smith’s foul shots help Vols survive DePaul

ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands — Tyler Smith made two free throws with 13.7 seconds left, and No. 10 Tennessee held off DePaul 57-53 in the second round of the Paradise Jam on Sunday.

Smith finished with 14 points and nine rebounds for the Vols (4-0), who will play No. 7 Purdue or Saint Joseph’s for the tournament title on Monday night.

DePaul (2-1) closed to 55-53 on Mac Koshwal’s layup with 44.5 seconds left, but the Vols ran off nearly 30 seconds before Jeremiah Kelly finally fouled Smith. He made both ends of the 1-and-1, and Will Walker missed a 3-point attempt in the closing seconds.

Wayne Chism added 13 points and eight rebounds for Tennessee, which out-rebounded DePaul 37-25 but turned the ball over 15 times to keep the game close.

Koshwal and Walker each had 14 points for DePaul. Eric Wallace added 10.