Scotty Hopson and Tobias Harris scored 18 points apiece, and No. 23 Tennessee held off Belmont for a 85-76 home victory Tuesday in first-round play in the preseason NIT at Thompson-Boling Arena.

Tennessee led 75-65 with 3:50 left before the Bruins cut it to 77-76 with 36 seconds left. But Belmont's Mick Hedgepeth missed the second of two free throws with a chance to tie and the Volunteers hit eight straight from the line to seal it.

Tennessee (2-0) shot better than 60 percent from the field while building a 41-35 halftime lead, as Harris scored 12 of his 18 in the first half. The Volunteers tapered off somewhat after the break, but they were 3-of-7 from 3-point range in the second half.

Harris also had seven rebounds, and Hopson had five boards. Cameron Tatum added 14 points for the Vols.

The Bruins (0-1) kept it close in the first half by shooting 54.2 percent from the field, but they cooled off considerably in the second half and finished at 43.1 percent.

Ian Clark scored 13 of his team-high 18 points in the first half for Belmont. Drew Hanlen added 13 for the Bruins, and Hedgepeth had 10 points and six rebounds.

Tennessee committed 27 turnovers.