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McRaes UT career ends with loss
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It wasn’t the birthday gift Jordan McRae was hoping for Friday.
The former Liberty County High School basketball player was instrumental in helping the 11th-seeded University of Tennessee Volunteers make it to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament.  But on the night of his 23rd birthday, McRae and the Vols fell just short of the regional final, dropping a 73-71 decision to second-seeded Michigan in Indianapolis, Ind.
McRae notched 24 points in helping the Vols bounce back from a 15-point deficit. According to utsports.com, he scored a layup with 10.8 seconds left to make it a one-point game, 72-71.
Michigan turned the ball over on the ensuing inbounds pass, giving Tennessee a chance for the lead.
However, UT center Jarnell Stokes was called for an offensive foul with six seconds left.
After Michigan hit a free throw, McRae’s desperation 3-pointer attempt was long at the buzzer.
“I mean, regardless of the outcome, we played hard,” McRae said in the postgame press conference, according to utsports.com. “And it was a huge comeback for us. But the feeling right now, you just can’t really be happy after that.”
McRae, a senior, played in 114 games with 74 career starts for the Vols. He averaged 27.1 minutes per game, and 13.3 points per game scoring a career 1521 points at Tennessee. He had 209 career assists, 97 blocks and 73 steals.
He scored 79 points in four NCAA tournament games this year.
McRae will graduate with a degree in sociology and criminal justice.
According to draftexpress.com McRae is projected to go as the 30th pick in the second round of the 2014 NBA draft by the San Antonio Spurs. He is ranked 18th in the NCAA among the seniors and ranked 86th among the top 100 prospects.

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