Mike Strange: Lew Evans wins senior day

A senior inspired a magnificent rally and helped write a happy Tennessee ending on senior day. Only it wasn’t the senior you would have predicted.

The senior you would have predicted, the career 1,000-point scorer, struggled on senior day. He missed six of seven shots. He even declined to sub into the game during the Vols’ stretch-run rally, not wanting to disturb the chemistry.

The other senior had his back.

“He won this game for us,’’ said Robert Hubbs III.

Hubbs was talking about Lew Evans.

There was plenty of “L-e-w-w-w” from a Thompson-Boling Arena crowd of 14,652 on Saturday as Tennessee overcame a 16-point second-half deficit to beat Alabama 59-54 on the final day of the regular season.

“He earned his keep today,’’ said coach Rick Barnes.

Barnes said Friday that he would have been satisfied if Evans, a grad transfer from Utah State, helped the Vols win one game this season. One game. That would make it worth it bringing him in to the roster.

Evans probably didn’t have the kind of year he envisioned when he came to Tennessee, his third school, but he had chipped in with contributions in a number of games, particularly the win over Kentucky in January.

Saturday, it wasn’t all Evans, but if this was a baseball game he was the winning pitcher of record.

His 13 points were a UT career high. His 29 minutes were a UT career high. He drilled a pair of 3-point baskets in the final four minutes. He blocked two shots, got five rebounds. He took a crucial charge to help seal the win.

“The biggest thing,” Evans said, “I wanted to win, playing my last game in TBA. And also helping Robert win his last game in TBA. I was going to do whatever it took. That was my mindset coming in.’’

Robert needed some help winning his last game in TBA. Hubbs scored six points, had two rebounds. This after a scoreless second half in a loss at LSU on Wednesday.

Hubbs is hurting. His right knee, taped in an ice pack after the game, has been a chronic problem. We can only speculate how much it affects him. He played just 12 minutes in the second half, when the Vols went from trailing 40-24 to take a 48-47 lead, only to fall behind again 53-48.

At one point, Barnes signaled him to report back in. Hubbs shook it off.

"They had the chemistry going,'' Hubbs said. "I said, 'I'm good. Let them ride for a little bit more.’ ''

Barnes let Evans ride all but two minutes of the second half. With UT down 53-48, he pulled up in transition and drilled a 3-pointer to ignite the second rally. With Tennessee up 54-53, he took a charge from Alabama's Braxton Key with 1:36 left, then knocked down another trey to make it a two-possession game.

Oh, by the way, Evans' mouth was hurting bad. He got two front teeth knocked out by an LSU elbow on Wednesday night.

"I've got a headache,'' he said. "I haven't really ate anything since I got 'em knocked out. I've got like no energy. But I had to do whatever it took to play today.''

If Evans had spent Saturday at an oral surgeon's office, Tennessee would have lost a third straight game to Alabama and would be riding a four-game losing streak into the SEC tournament on Thursday in Nashville. Instead, there is a small flicker of hope again. Or, at least, a welcome break from the tedium of a downhill skid.

Evans can't say for sure how many of Tennessee's 16 wins he impacted in a significant way.

"I'd like to say a lot of 'em,'' he said. "I want to be a big impact in winning. That’s why I chose to come here.''

There's no doubt about senior day, none at all. Put that "W" next to Evans' name.

Mike Strange may be reached at mike.strange@knoxnews.com. Follow him on Twitter at Strangemike44.