KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tyler Smith scored 15 points, and Chris Lofton added 14 as top-ranked Tennessee held off Kentucky, 63-60, at Thompson- Boling Arena.

JaJuan Smith and Wayne Chism each added nine points for the Volunteers (26-3, 12-2), who bounced back from a 72-69 loss to Vanderbilt to win their 31st straight home game.

Ramel Bradley finished with a game-high 17 points for the Wildcats (16-11, 10-4), who lost for the first time in five games. Perry Stevenson chipped in with 13 points and Derrick Jasper had nine points and eight assists.

Kentucky was down by as many as 15 points in the opening half but closed the gap to seven points by halftime and continued to chip away in the final frame.

The Wildcats finally deadlocked things at 41 when Ramon Harris connected on a jumper with 13:54 remaining.

Just over a minute later, Kentucky took its first lead of the game, 44-43, after Stevenson hit a pair of free throws.

Things remained tight from there as the game headed toward the stretch. Joe Crawford hit a jumper to give Kentucky a 57-56 edge with 4:43 left.

Ramar Smith put Tennessee back on top when he got loose for a dunk, and Tyler Smith followed with a putback to give the Vols a 60-57 lead with 3:07 on the clock.

After Bradley missed a jumper at the other end, Lofton drew contact and made 1-of-2 from the line to make it a 61-57 game with 1:41 left.

The swarming Vols defense went back to work and forced a turnover, leading to a Lofton driving layup that made it 63-57 with 1:15 on the clock.

The Wildcats had one last push in them, however. Jasper stroked a long three from the right corner to make it a one-possession game with just over a minute to go.

Kentucky then had a number of chances to even things in the final minute.

First, Jasper air-balled a three and the Wildcats were forced to foul Ramar Smith. The swingman missed the front end of the one-and-one, giving Kentucky another chance. This time, Crawford hit the back of the iron on a three with under five seconds to go and the Vols hung on for the win.