Dalton Knecht propelled No. 4 Tennessee to a thrilling comeback victory on Saturday night against No. 14 Alabama in Tuscaloosa, securing an 81-74 triumph. This pivotal win not only broke the tie with the Crimson Tide but also propelled the Vols to the top of the SEC standings, with only two regular-season games remaining.
The game opened with Tennessee surging ahead, appearing poised for a runaway victory within the first few minutes. However, the momentum shifted dramatically as the Vols hit a snag in the final four minutes of the first half. Alabama capitalized on this lapse, embarking on an impressive 12-0 run to close the half with a slim 41-39 lead.
The second half saw Tennessee quickly regaining the lead courtesy of a crucial 3-pointer from Knecht, his first of the game.
Despite this promising start, the Vols encountered another setback as Alabama surged ahead, holding Tennessee without a field goal for nearly six minutes. By the midway point of the half, Alabama had built a six-point lead.
Nevertheless, Alabama’s fortunes reversed as they struggled to find the basket, enduring a drought of nearly nine minutes without a field goal. It wasn’t until a late layup by Mark Sears with 1:15 remaining that Alabama ended the dry spell.
By then, Tennessee had regained a slight three-point lead. Down the stretch, Tennessee capitalized on free throws, sealing the victory with a seven-point margin.
Zakai Zeigler led Tennessee in scoring with 17 points despite a challenging 5-of-18 shooting performance. Knecht contributed 13 points and five rebounds, albeit struggling from beyond the arc with a 1-of-7 mark.
Tennessee’s overall field goal percentage stood at a modest 36%. With this win, the Vols extended their winning streak to six games, with upcoming matchups against South Carolina and Kentucky.
For Alabama, Mark Sears led the scoring effort with 22 points and six assists, while Aaron Estrada added 16 points. Nick Pringle made a significant impact off the bench with 13 points and nine assists. Despite the loss, Alabama has won four of its last six games and looks ahead to facing Florida before concluding the regular season against Arkansas.
While Tennessee currently holds the conference lead, No. 18 South Carolina lurks just half a game behind in the standings, with both No. 16 Kentucky and No. 11 Auburn within striking distance.
As the regular season winds down, the Vols control their destiny, but the competitive landscape promises further twists and turns in the coming week.
