Detrick Mostella made a clutch jumper and two free throws in the final minutes to help visiting Tennessee beat Middle Tennessee State 72-68 on Thursday night before a sellout crowd at Freedom Hall in Johnson City, Tenn.

Mostella had 25 points and seven rebounds for Tennessee (7-5). Robert Hubbs III had 11 points and five rebounds.

Desonta Bradford had 14 points, eight assists and five rebounds for East Tennessee State (9-3). T.J. Cromer also scored 14 points. A.J. Merriweather had 11 points and six rebounds.

The teams exchanged leads numerous times throughout the first half. East Tennessee State went up 12-10 on a 3-pointer by Cromer. Tennessee took a 16-14 lead on a layup by Grant Williams.

Mostella made back-to-back 3-pointers to spark a 9-2 run for Tennessee. The Volunteers carried a 32-23 advantage into the break after Mostella made another 3-pointer with four seconds to play in the opening period.

The Buccaneers got within three on a jumper by Hanner Mosquera-Perea early in the second half and cut the deficit to one on a basket by Bradford. They briefly tied the game on a three-point play by Mosquera-Perea, but the Volunteers quickly reclaimed the lead.

Tennessee went up 52-46 on a free throw by Shembari Phillips, but East Tennessee State battled back to take a 55-54 lead on a three-point play by David Burrell. The game was tied when Merriweather made a free throw to put the Buccaneers up by one, but the Volunteers regained the lead on a jumper by Williams. Mostella made a basket and two free throws in the final 1:11 to help the Volunteers escape with the win.

Tennessee shot 43.6 percent from the field, made only 6 of 19 from 3-point range and committed 17 turnovers. East Tennessee State shot only 37.5 percent but made 8 of 17 from beyond the arc.