Tennessee 54, Alabama 53: Jarnell Stokes had 15 points and 18 rebounds to power the Volunteers' comeback against the visiting Crimson Tide.
Jordan McRae added 17 points for the Volunteers (10-8, 2-4 SEC), who used a late run to take the lead in the final minute. Tennessee outrebounded Alabama 33-17, led by Stokes' career high.
Trevor Releford had 18 points and Trevor Lacey added 11, including a game-tying 3-pointer with 1:58 left, for the Crimson Tide (12-7, 4-2). Releford, however, couldn't get a shot off in the final seconds.
Stokes had a go-ahead layup for a 48-47 lead - its first since the opening minute of the game - and a jumper with 2:28 left. McRae's floater and a pair of free throws from Trae Golden with 31 seconds left proved to be the difference. Releford followed with a 3-pointer but Alabama couldn't score after getting the ball back with 11.8 seconds left.
Alabama led by as many as 10 in the first half but McRae's jumper with five seconds left cut the deficit to 25-19 at halftime. The Volunteers started the second half hot, hitting six of their first nine shots to keep the game close.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Tennessee is 8-0 in Stokes' career when the sophomore has at least six field goals. He had seven Saturday. ... It was the fifth time the Volunteers have been held to less than 20 points in the first half. ... Tennessee has six double-doubles this season - five by Stokes.
Alabama | Tennessee | |
Trevor Releford 18 | Scoring | Jordan McRae 17 |
Trevor Lacey 4 | Assists | Jordan McRae 4 |
Rodney Cooper 4 | Rebounds | Jarnell Stokes 18 |
Moussa Gueye 2 | Free Throws Made | Trae Golden 3 |
Trevor Releford 5 | Steals | Jarnell Stokes 2 |
Moussa Gueye 3 | Blocks | Jordan McRae 2 |