Tennessee grabbed a very solid 81-74 win over Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Saturday night
Rick Barnes now commands the SEC.
Dalton Knecht and No. 4 Tennessee staged a comeback in the second half on Saturday night to secure an 81-74 victory over No. 14 Alabama in Tuscaloosa. This win broke the tie with the Crimson Tide, propelling the Vols to sole leadership in the SEC standings with just two regular-season games remaining.
Tennessee surged ahead early and appeared ready to dominate the game in the opening minutes. The Vols swiftly built a double-digit lead in Tuscaloosa, but then encountered a complete standstill in the final four minutes of the first half. Alabama concluded the half with an impressive 12-0 run, seizing a two-point advantage at halftime.
In the second half, Tennessee swiftly regained the lead with a Knecht 3-pointer, marking his first of the game. However, the Vols encountered another setback. Alabama surged ahead, keeping Tennessee without a field goal for almost six minutes, allowing them to establish a six-point lead midway through the half.
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Nevertheless, Alabama’s offense eventually faltered, enduring almost nine minutes without a field goal. It wasn’t until a Mark Sears layup with 1:15 remaining in the game that the drought ended, but by then, Tennessee maintained a narrow three-point lead. Subsequently, Tennessee sank six free throws and limited Alabama to just one additional layup in the final moments, securing the seven-point victory.
Zakai Zeigler led Tennessee with 17 points in the victory, despite shooting 5-of-18 from the field. Knecht contributed 13 points and five rebounds, but struggled with a 1-of-7 performance from the 3-point line. Tennessee collectively shot just 36% from the field. The Vols have now secured six consecutive wins. They will face South Carolina next week before concluding the season against Kentucky on Saturday.
Mark Sears led Alabama with 22 points and six assists, while Aaron Estrada added 16 points. Nick Pringle provided a boost off the bench with 13 points and nine assists. Despite the defeat, Alabama has emerged victorious in four of its last six games. Next up, they will challenge Florida before wrapping up the regular season against Arkansas on Saturday.
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Although Tennessee currently holds the lead, No. 18 South Carolina trails closely behind by just half a game in the standings. Both No. 16 Kentucky and No. 11 Auburn are within two games as well. The landscape may shift in the coming week, but the Vols now control their own destiny.