KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee defensive coordinator John

Chavis thinks his squad played really well for 50 minutes. It was

the other 10 minutes of regulation that got them beat.

"For 50 minutes we played as well as we're capable of playing.

I think there's a lot of positives out of that. What we've got to

do is learn to finish. That's what we're working on right now,"

Chavis said.

The Volunteers defense allowed UCLA only five first downs and 85

yards in the first half of the Bruins' 27-24 overtime win on

Monday. Tennessee kept UCLA off the field for all but 13 minutes of

the first half.

Tennessee effectively stopped UCLA's running game, allowing only

29 yards. The Vols prevented a first down during the Bruins'

overtime period, resulting in a UCLA field goal which would win the

game.

The Vols tackling, which was a huge source of Tennessee's woes

in huge losses at California, Florida and Alabama last season, was

consistent with nine tackles for losses and a sack.

Tennessee had grabbed four interceptions by halftime, one of

which was returned for a touchdown by Nevin McKenzie as the first

half closed.

"You would think four picks and a couple more turnovers and a

couple more tackles ... you would think by the stats we won the

game, but we made a few more mistakes," defensive tackle Demonte

Bolden said.

The Vols offense failed to capitalize on any of the other

interceptions and scored only two touchdowns and kicked a field

goal during regulation.

Chavis said busted assignments led to problems during two fourth

quarter UCLA drives that ended with touchdowns to give the Bruins a

lead.

The first drive went 11 plays for 80 yards and took 4:30 off the

clock. The second lasted just under a minute and a half but went

nine plays for 70 yards.

"It was just that we got into the middle of the game, we got a

little lackadaisical and really thought we had it in the box,"

Bolden said.

The secondary appeared to play soft during those drives,

allowing UCLA quarterback Kevin Craft to dump short screen passes

over defenders' heads for 5- and 10-yard gains.

Secondary coach Larry Slade argued that UCLA could have

completed even longer passes had the defensive backs played closer

to the line. He said he gave credit to the Bruins playing more

accurately after halftime.

Craft was 7-of-18 for 66 yards during the first half but

finished 25-of-43 for 259 yards.

Safety Demetrice Morley said he and his teammates didn't tire

during the second half while UCLA remained on the field for more

than 17 minutes.

"I think they just made a good adjustment and we didn't adjust

fast enough to them," he said. "We are just mad we have to learn

from our mistakes and learn from this past game and move on to the

next game."

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)