Tide Fall to Volunteers 81-74 in Primetime SEC Clash

The No. 14 Alabama Crimson Tide fell in Coleman Coliseum 81-74 to the No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers to fall a game back in the SEC regular season title race.

Tonight's loss was the first SEC home loss in Coleman Coliusem for the Tide in over two years.

The win for the Volunteers puts them a game clear of the Crimson Tide and the rest of the SEC pack.

The Volunteers started the game hot, pushing the lead to 11 with 10:53 remaining in the first half. However, the Crimson Tide fired back, finishing the last 2:50 of the first on a 12-0 run to take a two-point advantage heading into the halftime break.

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Out of the half, the two teams traded punches, leading to a Dalton Knecht three that gave the Volunteers a one-point advantage at 16:53 in the second. Alabama threw a haymaker back, jumping to a 58-51 lead three minutes later.

Rick Barnes' Tennessee squad dug their heels in, fighting to a 63-62 lead with six minutes remaining in the game — a lead the Vols would never return to Alabama.

The Tide offense would fall stagnant, ending the game two-of-thirteen on field goals.

Two Zakai Zeigler free throws extended the Volunteer's lead to five with 0:29 left in the game, the dagger to shut the door on the Crimson Tide.

A pair of Jonas Aidoo free throws extended the lead to seven — Mark Sears would respond with a free throw. However, two more Zakai Ziegler free throws officially closed the Crimson Tide out.

"Honestly, pretty hard, pretty frustrating," said Alabama center Nick Pringle following the loss. "Put a lot of work, time, and detail into it, and for us to not come out with it is kinda... tough."

The Tide did a phenomenal job limiting Tennessee superstar guard Dalton Knecht to 13 points. But the Volunteer supporting cast stepped up, as Zakai Zeigler's 18 and Jonas Aidoo's 12 helped cover for Knecht.

Alabama outrebounded the Vols 44-42, but a high turnover rate and poor three-point shooting led to the Tide's demise.

The Crimson Tide will head to Gainsville on Tuesday for a date with the Florida Gators.

For more Alabama Basketball content from Simon Besnoy, follow him on X/Twitter at @SimonBesnoy and stay tuned to Tide1009.com for daily news.