Smith scored 22 points, setting a career high for the fourth straight game, and Georgia Tech held on late to beat Tennessee State 82-72 on Saturday.

After making only 9 of 21 free throws in a 91-75 loss at Georgia Wednesday night, Smith was shooting only 48 percent from the line for the season. The figure jumped out at Tennessee State coach Cy Alexander, who told his players to make Smith shoot more free throws.

This time, though, Smith made each of his 10 free-throw attempts while also leading Tech with 11 rebounds and eight assists.

"I told him this morning 'If you go to the foul line 21 times a game, you're going to be an All-American,' " Hewitt said.

"He does just about everything well. He's the guy we can't afford to lose."

Smith said after the loss to Georgia he had some personal coaching that made a difference.

"My girlfriend and I shot about 200 free throws," he said. "She wouldn't let me quit until I hit 12 in a row."

It proved to be good practice for Saturday's game.

Smith made 6 of 8 shots from the field and came within two assists of a triple-double.

"He was the difference," Alexander said.

"We lose by 10 and he makes 10 free throws. I thought that was the difference. In our scouting we talked about putting him on the line and making him shoot free throws."

Tech broke open a close game with a 16-1 second-half run.

Tech led by only four points at 39-35 when Mario West hit a 3-pointer, followed by back-to-back 3-pointers from Anthony Morrow, to spark the decisive run.

The outside shooting helped open inside scoring chances for Smith.

Morrow had 17 points and West had 16 for Tech (4-3).

Tech played even with Tennessee State (1-2) until the big run, when it pushed its lead to double figures for the first time.

The Yellow Jackets held a big lead of 24 points at 66-42 before the Tigers fought back to pull to within 12 points at 72-60 with 4:32 left to play. Two free throws by Matthews with one minute left cut the lead to 10 points, but the comeback hopes ended there.

Clarence Matthews scored the Tigers' first eight points and had 22 for the game. Bruce Price had 18, all in the second half, and Wayne Arnold added 17.

Hewitt earned his 100th win at Tech. He is 100-69 in his sixth season at Tech.

Hewitt made his first lineup change of the season, starting forward Theodis Tarver ahead of Ra'Sean Dickey, who had only five points and one rebound in Wednesday night's loss to Georgia.

Dickey finished with eight points and seven rebounds in only 18 minutes.

"Theo earned the start; it's nothing about sending messages," Hewitt said. "Ra'Sean can either respond or allow Theo to take his spot."

Tarver had four points and two rebounds in 22 minutes.

Tech had a major first-half scare when Smith crashed to the floor and stayed down after trying to stop a dunk by Matthews.

Smith wears a sleeve on his right knee following an injury he suffered on a similar play last season. He returned to action minutes after limping to the Tech bench Saturday.