Heading into the Tennessee game, an unfamiliar training tool was brought out by UK head coach John Calipari.

A boxing bag.

It was to instill toughness in a team that had dropped two straight games on the road – two losses that also contributed to some pent-up frustration the players were able to take out.

“I was trying to break through that bag every time I punched it,” Josh Harrellson said.

UK (17-6, 5-4 Southeastern Conference) was throwing heavy punches of its own in a 73-61 victory over Tennessee (15-9, 5-4 SEC).

Harrellson especially was taking swings, scoring 16 points while missing one shot, and taking what he said was the first charge of his life.

“I might not have been hit that hard,” Harrellson said. “I kind of fell down with it. (Calipari) was smiling at me. I gave him a little point, like, ‘I can do it.’”

Also leading UK was DeAndre Liggins, who tied a career-high with 19 points and limited Tennessee’s Scotty Hopson, in his first game back after an ankle injury, to 11 points.