Tyler Smith's turnaround jumper in the paint with 26.5 seconds gave the Tennessee Vols a one-point lead, and the second-ranked Vols came out with a 66-62 win over cross state rival Memphis Saturday night.

They won't be No. 2 for very long.

Tennessee's expected No. 1 ranking will put them atop the AP poll for the first time in school history.

The win snaps current No. 1 Memphis' 47-game regular season winning streak, along with their 45-game home winning streak and ends their chance to be the first team since Indiana in 1976 to finish a season undefeated.

The Vols' 16-rebound advantage was critical on a night when their leading scorers, seniors Chris Lofton and JaJuan Smith, combined for just 16 points.

Tennessee was helped by Tyler Smith's 16 points and a big night from Wayne Chism, who added 13.

Memphis native J.P. Prince, who was called P.J. by Memphis coach John Calipari throughout this week, scored 13 points in the second half. Six came in one dramatic 40-second stretch that inlcuded a two dunks and a putback layup. 

UT trailed 61-58 with 2:29 left, but a series of missed opprotunities for the Tigers allowed the Vols to regain the lead.

The Tigers failed to capitalize on two offensive rebounds and three shots on their first possesion under the two minute mark and missed free throws down the stretch also haunted Conference USA's top team.

Chris Lofton's two free throws at the end of the game sealed the deal for Tennessee.

The game started out with a frenetic pace as Memphis made eight 3-pointers in the first 12 minutes of the game led by Chris Douglas-Roberts and Derrick Rose. JaJuan Smith managed to keep the Vols in the game, making three of his own in the first half.

Memphis, however, made just one 3-pointer the rest of the game.

Memphis' cold streak kept the relentless Vols in the game despite being down as many as seven against an explosive Tigers squad. 

Rose's 23 points led the Tigers and Douglas-Roberts chipped in 14. 

The soon-to-be No. 1 Tennessee Vols are now set to make a run for the ultimate goal, a national championship.

My take

Everyone knew this game way big because of its implications for two of the best teams this season.

Now that I think about it, it might be even bigger than I thought. Mainly for the long term perception of Tennessee nationally, but perhaps more importantly within the state.

If you listen to Memphis head coach John Calipari talk about the Tennessee series you'll hear him call the contest a "regional game" and says he only wants to play Tennessee in Nashville.

It's as if he's doing Tennessee a favor.

However, the Vols embarassed the then No. 16 Tigers in Knoxville 76-58 last year, and the Vols came out on top again this year with seemingly everything on the line.

Tennessee stands a much better chance of getting the best players in the state, ususally found in Memphis, to make the five-hour move to Knoxville for school as long as they keep beating the Tigers.

The game wasn't nearly as high-scoring an affair as it could have been. That usually seems to be the case in any sport when offensive fireworks are expected in a highly anticipated game, though. 

The lower-scoring and, at times, slower-paced game allowed Tennessee to show that they can execute in the half-court on the offensive end.

Assistant coach Jason Shay deserves a lot of credit for the scout, and it came in handy in the final minutes of the game when Pearl used Lofton as a decoy to set up great opprotunities for Tyler Smith.  

Memphis on the other hand seemed a bit lost and out of their element in the final two minutes. Whenever they got good shots, they missed them.

Tennessee still has work to do to get better in the half-court, especially on defense, but Saturday was a promising sign for the Vols.

Despite the No. 1 ranking, Tennessee will likely still be doubted throughout the rest of the season and into the tournament, mainly because their name doesn't have the cachet of Duke, North Carolina, UCLA or Kansas. 

Don't count me among those still doubting Pearl and the Vols.

How can you?

Needless to say Pearl has surpassed and smashed through every reasonable expectation set out for him when he was hired at Tennessee.

The soon-to-be No. 1 Tennessee Vols are now set to make a run for the ultimate goal, a national championship.

They have the talent, the experience, and the coaching.

Saturday's win on the biggest of regular season stages showed they also have composure that should bode well come tournament time.