UCLA
vs
TENNESSEE

January 30, 1977
at
The Omni, Atlanta

Another rare full-game play-by-play broadcast treasure has been released on DVD by Rare Sportsfilms, Inc! Dick Enberg and Billy Packer call this game for NBC as UCLA (15-2) takes on Tennessee (14-2 and riding a 12-game winning streak, the Volunteers’ longest since 1917)! This is a great battle of super forwards, with all-American Marques Johnson and sophomore David Greenwood of UCLA matched up against All-American Bernard King and Ernie Grunfeld of Tennessee! Even so, the star of the game is none other than young guard Roy Hamilton who sparks the Bruins with a career high 30 points! Starting for UCLA are forwards Johnson and Greenwood, freshman center Gig Sims, and guards Hamilton and Jim Spillane. Tennessee coach Ray Mears starts King and Grunfeld at forward, freshman Reggie Johnson at center and Mike Jackson and Johnny Darden at guard. The referee is Dale Kelley of the Southeast Conference and the umpire is Irv Brown of the Pac 8. It’s a spirited crowd, mostly rooting for Tennessee. The Bruins jump on top and are never headed, as eye-popping shooting and fast, up and down the court basketball action makes for a high-scoring game for both teams!

UCLA leads 52-42 at halftime. During the break, NBC’s halftime show “Grandstand” features a look at the #1 team in the country, the undefeated San Francisco Dons, coached by Bob Gaillard. Gaillard is interviewed and discusses his young club and players Bill Cartwright, James Hardy and Winfred Boynes.

Tennessee’s first half starting five are back to open the second half, however UCLA coach Gene Bartow starts Brett Vroman at center in place of Gig Sims. During the game, other Bruins seeing action include freshman Kiki Vandeweghe and James Wilkes. Also appearing for Tennessee are freshman guard Bert Bertelkamp and Chuck Threeths. Tennessee’s second half run at the Bruins cuts the UCLA lead down to four points before David Greenwood cans a long jumper to continue UCLA’s hot shooting. By the end of the game, Johnson, Grunfeld and Jackson have fouled out for Tennessee and UCLA wins 103-89! It’s coach Gene Bartow’s 50^th victory as coach of the UCLA Bruins!