No. 4 Tennessee Wears Down No. 14 Alabama Basketball To Sweep Season Series
The No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers came into Coleman Coliseum on Saturday night and spoiled the home crowd’s fun. Tennessee defeated the No. 14 Alabama Crimson Tide 81-74 to sweep the season series.
The Volunteers jumped out to an 11-point lead but saw it erased by halftime, heading into the locker room trailing by two. The veteran Volunteers trailed throughout the second half but continued to battle, taking a lead late and securing first place in the SEC standings with just two games remaining.
"Yeah, that was not the outcome we were looking for. I want to thank the fans, they created a great atmosphere all day. It's great we had College GameDay here. It shows how far our program's come, competing for an SEC Championship with a week left in the regular season. It's out of our hands now. We've still got a shot at it, but we need to get some help to earn a share of it at this point. It's disappointing. THey're a tough, veteran team. You've got to give Tennessee a lot of credit. They're down seven, midway through the second half. Knecht's in foul trouble, he's kind of carried them. They had other guys step up and make big shots. Ziegler leads them in scoring, he was good. We didn't do a good enough job on other guys outside of Knecht," said Alabama head coach Nate Oats after the loss.
"We've got to get our guys back together. Florida was an overtime game here so it's not going to be easy to win down there. We've got to try to win two and hope for a little help this week."
Alabama was unusually cold from behind the 3-point line as they mustered just nine makes on 37 tries for a 24-percent conversion rate. The Crimson Tide did a fine job on Tennessee superstar Dalton Knecht as he was held below his season average. He scored 13 points with five rebounds and two assists, but Tennessee was led by senior guard Zakai Zeigler who scored 18 points by making 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, with four assists and two rebounds.
Mark Sears added to his already stellar season with a 22-point output with six assists and two rebounds but it wasn't enough to get the win over fellow SEC Player of the Year candidate in Knecht.
Alabama finished with just two made field goals over its last 13 attempts allowing the Tennessee Volunteers to move into the driver's seat in the conference standings.
The Crimson Tide heads to Gainesville to take on the No. 24 Florida Gators on Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT for the final road trip of the regular season.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 14 Alabama Crimson Tide is set to play, arguably, its biggest game of the season on Saturday night as the No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers come into Coleman Coliseum.
The magnitude of the matchup has the attention of the college basketball world as Tuscaloosa hosted ESPN's College GameDay for basketball for the first time in history. The Tide and Volunteers are tied for first place in the Southeastern Conference with just two games remaining after this collision.
Alabama enters the matchup fresh off a come-from-behind victory over the Ole Miss Rebels in Oxford on Wednesday night where the Crimson Tide scored 85 points over the games's final 27 minutes.
Tennessee won its fifth consecutive game on Wednesday by knocking off the Auburn Tigers at home by eight points. Volunteers superstar Dalton Knecht dazzled against the Tigers, scoring 39 points.
The Volunteers got the better of the Crimson Tide in Knoxville on January 20, winning 91-71. Tennessee held Alabama to its season-low in points, forcing 22 turnovers and restricting the Tide to just 19-percent from the 3-point line.
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Second Half:
- 1:45 - Josiah-Jordan James makes a 3-point shot and stretches the lead back to 5. Alabama just can't get the stop it needs to get over the hump.
- 2:20 - Mouhamed Dioubate steps to the free throw line after taking a hard foul. It's the second Alabama hard fall in a row. Dioubate makes one and the Volunteer lead remains two.
- 2:25 - Dalton Knecht makes a midrange jumper to take Tennessee back to a 3-point lead.
- 2:48 - Nick Pringle makes both free throws. Those are huge. He's 5 of 7 from the line and Alabama trails by just one. It is LOUD in Coleman Coliseum.
- 3:12 - Mark Sears makes both free throws and brings the Tide to within 3 points. Alabama gets a defensive stop and it's Nick Pringle to go to the free throw line. He took a hard foul cleaning up the Sears drive.
- 3:18 - MEDIA TIMEOUT
- Tennessee 70, Alabama 65
- Aaron Estrada / Mark Sears - 16
- Zakai Zeigler - 14
- The Volunteers have shot the 3-pointer better tonight than Alabama making 11 of 37 to the Tide's 9 of 33.
- 4:17 - The Coleman Coliseum crowd rises and begs for a defensive stop. Tennessee's length is so hard to deal with as the Vols get a second chance and cash it in for a 3-pointer.
- 4:19 - Pringle goes to the line after an offensive rebound. He has 7 rebounds so far for the Crimson Tide.
- 4:53 - Nick Pringle makes both free throws at the line and Alabama draws to within one point again. Tennessee 65-64.
- 5:27 - Aaron Estrada misses a 3-point attempt. The Tide trails by two. Can Alabama get a defensive stop?
- 5:58 - Alabama's offense has hit a little bit of a lull and Tennessee has kept at it. Jonas Aidoo scores for the Vols to give them the lead at 65-62. Crucial time for the Tide.
- 6:43 - Grant Nelson fouls out after being called for an offensive foul. Nelson finishes with 3 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists in 16 minutes. Alabama still has a 62-60 lead.
- 7:37 - MEDIA TIMEOUT
- Alabama 62, Tennessee 59
- Aaron Estrada / Mark Sears - 16
- Dalton Knecht / Zakai Zeigler - 11
- Both Alabama and Tennessee have made 9, 3-point baskets in the game.
- After committing 22 turnovers in the first game in Knoxville, Alabama has currently only turned it over 10 times.
- The Crimson Tide currently winning the rebounding battle 34-33 with Mouhamed Dioubate and Nick Pringle pulling down 6 a piece.
- 8:57 - Jarin Stevenson goes to the line after being fouled on a dunk attempt. The Crimson Tide defensively are holding Tennessee to 1.00 points per possession, a hair lower than Alabama's usual output. A sign of the intensity that the Tide is playing with.
- 9:56 - Alabama is leading 60-54. The Crimson Tide is showing real grit on the glass, outrebounding Tennessee 33-31 in the game after falling behind early in that stat.
- 11:50 - MEDIA TIMEOUT
- Alabama 58-51.
- Aaron Estrada - 16
- Mark Sears - 14
- Dalton Knecht - 11
- 13:23 - Grant Nelson just got called for his fourth foul of the game as he's boxing out on defense. Not a whole lot to that call but it puts Alabama behind the eight-ball.
- 13:42 - Alabama is up by seven points as the Tide has its biggest lead of the game. Coleman is ear-splitting as Tennessee brings the ball up the floor.
- 13:42 - Dalton Knecht picks up his third foul by taking out Sam Walters in the corner. The freshman will shoot three free throws as the Tide looks to extend its lead.
- 14:30 - Sam Walters takes it to the hole for a huge bucket and Coleman explodes. They love the caucasian freshman.
- 15:27 - Mr. Brightside over the Coleman Coliseum PA system, usually a football tradition, but we'll allow it. The atmosphere would bring you to tears its so electric.
- 15:27 - Alabama public address introduces Justin Thomas and Trey Mullinax to the crowd. The two professional golfers waived to the crowd.
- 15:27: MEDIA TIMEOUT: Alabama 53, Tennessee 49
- Alabama Leading Scorer- Aaron Estrada -16
- Tennessee Leading Scorer - Dalton Knecht - 11
- 15:39 - Aaron Estrada cashes in from close range after a slashing drive from Mark Sears. Alabama has a four-point lead.
- 16:46 - Dalton Knecht converts from deep and gives Tennessee the lead by one. These two teams going back and forth at one another. Knecht is up to 11 points on 4-10 shooting. Tennessee 49-48.
- 17:09 - Assertive move by Rylan Griffen as he takes it to the cup to keep Alabama's lead at 2.
- 18:14 - Nelson makes a 3-point shot in rhythm and Alabama stretches a lead to 6.
- 18:47 - Grant Nelson picks up his third foul of the game defending Dalton Knecht at the rim. Nelson and Pringle both have 3 fouls for Alabama. Alabama 43-40.
- 20:00 - Tennessee opens the second half with possession and away we go.
Halftime
First Half:
- Halftime: Alabama 41, Tennessee 39
- 1:10 - Mark Sears makes two free-throws and we have a brand new ball game. 39 points each.
- 1:34 - A 3-point make by Jarin Stevenson forces a Rick Barnes timeout. Coleman is loud and the game is back to within a single possession. Alabama is 7-of-19 from deep. Tennessee 39-37.
- 2:09 - When a sold-out Coleman Coliseum gets loud it is loud. Estrada makes a layup followed by a defensive stop. This crowd appreciates every defensive stop the Tide can muster. Tennessee 39-34.
- 2:40 - Mark Sears hits a deep 3-point shot in Dalton Knecht's eye. It's a much needed bucket for Alabama.
- 4:22 - The extended timeout lets us point out Alabama's 6 turnovers and Tennessee's 15-13 edge on the glass leading to the Volunteer's seven-point lead.
- 4:22 - Tennessee missed a free-throw, but was able to get an offensive rebound by Dalton Knecht. Knecht finds help in the corner and the Volunteers make a 3-point shot. Ultimately ends up being a 4-point possession for Tennessee and they hold a 36-29 lead.
- Tennessee Leading Scorer: Jordan Gainey, 9 points
- Alabama Leading Scorer: Aaron Estrada/Mark Sears, 7 points
- 4:46 - Alabama is called for an offensive foul on Nick Pringle. That makes Pringle's third foul which creates huge complications for the Crimson Tide. Tennessee leads 32-29.
- 5:29 - Davin Cosby makes his second 3-pointer to bring Alabama to within one. Strong defense gets a stop and Alabama can take the lead on this next offensive possession. Tennessee 30-29.
- 6:22 - Aaron Estrada draws a foul on Dalton Knecht and gets to the free throw line. It's Knecht's first foul and the Tide draws back to within two points. A stop would send Coleman into madness.
- 7:07 - Nick Pringle goes up top and converts an alley-oop and Alabama is back within four points. Tennessee leads 28-24.
- 8:27 - Estrada just got called for an illegal screen. Crowd has been tough on the refs early. Crimson Tide can't seem to get a run going. They trail 28-19.
- 10:25 - Nick Pringle breaks a scoring drought by scoring from close range. Alabama trails 23-14.
- 10:53 - Nelson takes another hard call defending at the rim and has his second foul of the game.
- 11:04 - Grant Nelson is called for a foul on a rebound. The Coleman crowd is not happy as Nelson appeared to take a forearm to the chest.
- 11:27 - Grant Nelson misses a 3-point shot. Tennessee pulls in a rebound and beats Alabama down the floor drawing a foul on Alabama's Mark Sears.
- 11:43 - Alabama's 3 turnovers has lead to 5 Tennessee points off turnovers while the Volunteers have cashed in 4 fast break points. It's early, but the little things add up when playing for an SEC Championship.
- 11:43 - Alabama shooting just 31-percent from the floor while Tennessee is shooting 57-percent. Dalton Knecht leads the Volunteers with 6 points.
- Tennessee leads 21-12
- Media timeout: Crimson Tide struggling from the field early. They've missed some opportunities. Three early turnovers in addition - but they only trail by four. 15 1H: Alabama 3, Tennessee 0.
- Quick hook for Rylan Griffen as Sam Walters checks in.
- Mark Sears gets things started with a deep three. Coleman Coliseum is rocking. 18:59 1H: Alabama 3, Tennessee 0.
Pregame:
- Starters for Alabama: Sears, Estrada, Griffen, Stevenson, Nelson.
- Former Alabama golfer Justin Thomas is in the building.
- Latrell Wrightsell Jr. is OUT for tonight's matchup with Tennessee, per BamaCentral's Blake Byler.
- Latrell Wrightsell Jr. is warming up for Alabama pregame. No word on if he will play tonight.
Notes You Need To Know
- Since head coach arrived at Alabama in 2019-20, the Crimson Tide has won a league-best 61 SEC contests
- The Crimson Tide have earned back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 2012-2013
- Alabama is 17-21 against AP Top-25 opponents under and 5-6 against Top-5 opponents
- Alabama has scored 100 points in nine games this season which is the most by an SEC school since Kentucky's 1995-96 team (nine games)
- UA has scored 80 points vs. conference opponents in nine straight games, tied for the second-longest streak in the SEC in the last 30 seasons (Kentucky had 10 in 1995-96 and 9 in 2016-17)
- Alabama has scored 90 points in five straight SEC games, the longest streak in program history
- Per KenPom, Alabama has the highest offensive efficiency rating (128.1), the second highest rating since 1999 (Wisconsin, 129)
- is the only Division I player that has 575 points, 120 rebounds, 115 assists and 65 three-pointers this season
- Sears is one of five players in Division I and the only guard that is scoring 20 points per game while averaging 50 percent from the field
- Sears has recorded 20-points or more in 18 games this season and is the most since James "Hollywood" Robinson in 1992-93 (18 games)
- Sears ranks No. 2 in the SEC in scoring (20.6 ppg), No. 5 in field goal percentage (51.1) and No. 8 in assists (4.1 apg)
- Alabama is one of three schools (Purdue and Wright State) in the country that has two players on its current roster that has scored at least 1,700 points throughout their career in Sears (1,931 points) and Estrada (1,845 points)
About Tennessee
- Tennessee is 25-20 against AP Top-25 opponents under head coach Rick Barnes
- Over the past four seasons (2020-24), Tennessee leads all SEC teams with 19 AP Top-25 wins
- The Volunteers rank No. 3 in the country in field goal percentage defense (38.3)
- Four times this year, Dalton Knecht has scored 35-plus points, as he leads the SEC (20.8 ppg) and ranks No. 17 in Division I in scoring
- Knecht is the only Division I player this season to record four 35-point performances and the first Power Six player to do so in a full campaign since 2019-20 when Arkansas' Mason Jones (five) and Marquette's Markus Howard (eight) did so.
- Zakai Zeigler leads the SEC and ranks No. 22 in Division I in assists per game (5.9 apg)
- UT is a season-best fourth in the AP Poll. This is the sixth time the Vols have hit that mark in a season, including the third in the past six years under Rick Barnes.
- Santiago Vescovi became the second Volunteer to record 200 career steals
- Tennessee has scored 80-plus points in nine of their last 11 wins. They previously scored 80-plus points in one their last 11 wins last year
