Substitutes carried Tide, but not far enough

Torrance forced overtime with a game-tying basket in regulation but missed a 3-pointer with 10 seconds to play in overtime as Tennessee defeated the Tide 69-66.

"I was hoping it was going in," Torrance said of his final 3-point attempt. "The ball just didn’t bounce my way."

Torrance wasn’t Alabama’s first option for the 3-pointer.

"We were looking for Mykal Riley for 3, but he couldn’t get open," Torrance said. "When my defender doubled Richard (Hendrix), that left me wide open."

It was fitting that Alabama’s last chance at victory was in the unlikely hands of a backup freshman guard. If not for Torrance’s play, Alabama would have never made it to overtime.

With 15:19 to play and his team down by eight points, Alabama coach Mark Gottfried pulled his five starters. It was the best move he made all night.

Torrance and the rest of the Tide subs brought life to a lethargic, careless team that had managed to stay within striking distance only because of UT’s dreadful shooting (33 percent for the game).

Torrance hit three shots and backup center Yamene Coleman added five points as Alabama’s reserves outscored UT 21-9 to take a 52-48 lead with 8:46 to play.

"They were playing great," Gottfried said of his reserves. "But the guys that are privileged to be in there at the start need to play better. Period. I’m getting a little tired of dealing with that at this point in the year."

Jermareo Davidson and Hendrix, Alabama’s star post players, were a combined 6-for-18 from the field and missed a number of easy baskets. All-SEC point guard Ronald Steele, who has had multiple injuries this season, had only three points in 23 minutes.

"Ron is really hurting," Gottfried said. "That’s not great news for us. I thought he was very ineffective."

Steele already had been hampered by injuries to his right knee and left ankle. He said he injured his left knee in the first half.

I’m a little discouraged that (Wednesday) was the first time he said, ‘I can’t go,’ " Gottfried said. "That’s not a good situation to be in with our team at this point."

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.