There has been a narrative following Tennessee basketball in recent weeks about the Vols playing dirty.

At one point in Thursday’s Sweet 16 loss to Florida Atlantic 62-55, the Vols’ Uros Plavsic did little to dispel that narrative.

With 7:22 left in the game, Plavsic checks FAU center Vladislav Goldin with a shoulder to the chest. FAU’s Alijah Martin hit a 3-pointer on the play to cap a 15-2 run and earn the Owls a 48-41 lead.

Ninth-seeded FAU (34-3) will play third-seeded Kansas State in the East Region final at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.

Johnell Davis led the Conference USA champions with 15 points and Forrest finished with 11, including eight straight when FAU took control in the final 10 minutes.

The Volunteers (25-11), who were looking for the second Elite Eight appearance in program history, shot just 33 percent — including 6 of 23 from 3-point range. Josiah-Jordan James and Jonas Aidoo scored 10 points apiece.

Tennessee coach Rick Barnes has made 27 NCAA appearances with four schools, but he has reached the Elite Eight only three times and gone to one Final Four.

Tennessee couldn’t buy a bucket. The Vols had a six-minute stretch during which they scored four points.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.