TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 4 Tennessee men's basketball won in a thrilling, close matchup against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday night. The 81-74 win marked the Vols sixth SEC win in a row.
The Vols jumped out to a 9-5 lead, and the defense's impact, along with Dalton Knecht, was felt early. The defense forced three turnovers through the first four minutes of the game, one of which led to a transition dunk from Knecht. He also drew a double team early in the game, resulting in a Josiah-Jordan James three as the Vols spaced the floor.
Tennessee shot the ball well early, making 8 of their first 14 shots, which led to a 21-12 lead. Zakai Zeigler and Santiago Vescovi made three-pointers during an 8-0 run and UT got up double-digits with a 24-14 lead with 10 minutes left in the first half. Jordan Gainey went on a stretch where he scored seven straight points for the Vols from 21-14 to 28-19.
Alabama went on a run of their own. A 10-2 run trimmed the deficit to just one point. Davin Cosby Jr. hit two three-pointers during the run, signaling to Zeigler on the first one that he was too small to guard it. UT rattled off nine consecutive points after that. Josiah-Jordan James made two free throws, Knecht made a free throw, and then on the second one, UT got an offensive rebound, which led to a Jahmai Mashack three-pointer. James hit another three on the next possession, and UT was back up double-digits to go up 30-29,
The Crimson Tide charged back again and ended the half on a 12-0 run. Mark Sears knocked down a three-pointer and Aaron Estrada scored on a layup. Soon after, Jarin Stevenson knocked down a three and Estrada scored on another layup to snatch a 41-30 lead at the half.
Alabama extended that lead and got up 46-40. Zeigler and Vescovi splashed back-to-back threes to tie the game. Alabama scored again for the lead, but then Knecht drained a three to give the Vols a 49-48 lead. Estrada responded with a three and a layup to put Alabama back up by four.
Later, with the Crimson Tide up 55-51, Knecht fouled Sam Walters, who sunk all three free throws to put Alabama up 58-51. It was Knecht's foul, and he had to go to the bench.
Zeigler hit another three with UT down 60-54 and drew the Vols within 60-57.
It was Aidoo who slammed a dunk off an excellent Mashack assist, and soon after, he was fouled by Sears and was sent to the line to make it a two-point game, 62-60.
With about six minutes to go, Mashack's second three of the day put Tennessee up for the first time since there was 1:10 left in the first half. On the Crimson Tide's next possession, Mashack stole the ball and dished it to Zeigler, who found Aidoo in the paint for two more points. This sequence changed the whole momentum of the game. The Vols led 65-62.
Alabama's free throws made it a one-point game, but Zeigler drilled a three to take another five-point lead, and it was back and forth from then on.
With 2:48 left, Alabama came within one, 70-69, but the Vols went back up by five with a Knecht jumper and a James three.
Tennessee walked away with the thrilling matchup, Zeigler led the team with 16 points. Knecht had to work hard for 13 points in the matchup, but the team pulled it off in the final minutes of the game, and now Tennesee is sitting at number one in the conference.
Next up, Tennessee takes on South Carolina on the road on Wednesday, March 6, at 7 p.m.
