Sizzling No. 6 Tennessee snaps Alabama's 6-game winning streak

Field Level Media|published: Sat Jan 20 2024 21:42
Jan 20, 2024; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; The Tennessee Volunteers bench reacts to a three-point shot against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first half at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center. credits: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Dalton Knecht scored 25 points, Jonas Aidoo had 19 points and four blocks, and the sixth-ranked Tennessee Volunteers routed Alabama 91-71, handing the Crimson Tide their first loss in SEC play.

Jordan Gainey added 15 points and Santiago Vescovi had 10 points for Tennessee (14-4, 4-1 SEC), which has won 10 of its last 11 games and improved to 10-0 at home. The Volunteers held the nation's fourth-ranked scoring offense under its season average of 90.2 points per game.

Mark Sears had 22 points but committed seven of Alabama's 22 turnovers. The Tide (12-6, 4-1) had their six-game winning streak snapped.

Sears was coming off a season-low nine points in Alabama's win over Missouri on Tuesday night. He injured his ankle in the first half of that game and sat out the final five minutes but was cleared to play Saturday.

Tennessee led by 13 at halftime and started the second half slow, but the Tide couldn't capitalize. They committed two turnovers and Grant Nelson picked up two quick fouls and went to the bench with four with 18:46 left.

He eventually fouled out with 6:49 left after scoring just three points.

Aidoo made a layup and one free throw and Zakai Zeigler drained a 3-pointer to give the Volunteers a 59-41 lead.

The teams traded points until Aidoo's layup made a layup with 8:39 left to give Tennessee a 73-52 lead. The Volunteers put it away over the next three minutes, going on an 8-2 run to lead 81-54.

Aidoo made the first two points of the game to give the Volunteers a lead they never relinquished. Pringle's layup early in the first half got Alabama within three but that was as close as it got.

Knecht hit a 3-pointer to push Tennessee's lead to 21-12 and it increased to 12 after one of the Tide's 13 turnovers in the first half.

The Volunteers led by as much as 16 points, but Alabama cut it to 10 on Nelson's layup. Gainey hit a 3-pointer to make it 50-37 at the break.

—Field Level Media

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