Bodog Beat

Chris Lofton's Vols are No. 1 in the SEC. (AP Images)

The Tennessee Volunteers made it official, capturing their Southeastern Conference regular-season title Sunday afternoon.

The fourth-ranked team in the nation beat South Carolina, 89-56, in Knoxville, Tenn., to cap a remarkable run by the squad’s three seniors. Chris Lofton, the school’s all-time leading scorer, had endured a 14-17 freshman season but has led the program’s turnaround.

Against the Gamecocks he had a team-high 28 points, including four three-pointers. JaJuan Smith added 17 points as Tennessee covered the point spread with ease. The Vols were favored by 15 at home.

In other notable college basketball games on Sunday:

Ohio State 63, No. 17 Michigan State 54: Jamar Butler had 20 points as the Buckeyes kept their March Madness hopes alive with a win over the Spartans in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State was favored by one point.

No. 20 Drake 79, Illinois State 49: Adam Emmenecker scored 16 points, capping an MVP performance in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament and leading the Bulldogs to the title. Drake was favored by three in St. Louis.

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