TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Three straight turnovers led to a third straight loss for Tennessee basketball Saturday at Alabama’s Coleman Coliseum.
Trailing by a single point with just under four minutes to go, the Vols fell apart. One turnover led to an easy transition bucket by Andrew Steele. Another turnover led to two free throws for Steele. The third handed an open court layup to Bama’s Trevor Releford.
Just like that, the Tide took control of a back-and-forth affair and never let go. A game-tying 3-point attempt by UT’s Trae Golden drew iron at the final horn and Alabama snatched a 68-65 victory from the Vols.
Four members of the Tide finished is double figures, led by Trevor Releford, who scored all 15 of his points in the second half. Backcourt mate Trevor Lacey added 15 of his own.
Tennessee (8-6, 0-2 SEC), led by 21 points from Jordan McRae, shot 8-for-16 from the free-throw line and committed 16 turnovers.
Alabama (9-6, 1-1)made 16 of 19 from the stripe and committed just seven turnovers.
The first half summed up Tennessee’s offensive inconsistency.
The Vols began by missing 10 of 13 shots. Then made four in a row to take a 20-12 lead. Then went scoreless for the next 6 minutes, 6 seconds. Then closed by canning three of five shots. Nine turnovers were sprinkled in among the ups and downs.
A 28-24 halftime resulted for UT.
Then Releford showed up. The junior guard scored 10 of the Tide’s first 12 points to start the second half.
Alabama made 15 of 24 shots (62.5 percent) to beat Tennessee.
Brendan F. Quinn covers Tennessee men’s basketball. Follow him at twitter.com/BFQuinn
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Comments » 13
TheEffect writes:
Another "NIT Appearance" banner coming for Thompson Boling Arena.
tomkats3242 writes:
We have a good defensive coach. Now we need to find someone that can teach players how to shoot and when to shoot. We are in dire need of quality players who listen to their coach. If Mike Hamilton had taken the blame instead of Pearl we would still be in the basketball business at UT. Instead Hamilton went and found someone he could tell what to do. Now the program is going downhill and will not stop. Tennessee Basketball is the laughing stock in the SEC. GBO
BigOrangeRock writes:
Who cares. Basketball is dumb.
1vavolfan writes:
If UT makes foul shots they win going away. More poor coaching, McCrae doesn't need to be handling the ball when the press is on. Jarnell comes out with 5:00 to go and doesn't come back in, as soon as he goes out the Alabama guards start driving the paint for layup after layup. Long SEC season ahead.
TheEffect writes:
Which is better, Buzz Ball, Houston Ball or Conzo Ball? When you shop at Big Lots for coaches.....you get Big Lots in the results.
cyclonevol87 writes:
Ugly ugly Basketball almost unwatchable.
Jakevol writes:
Seems the Football has carried over to the basketball team.
NashvillePreds writes:
Another embarrassment manufactured by a male athletic team at the University of Tennessee. Why and how we even have donors at this point is beyond me. The only way we compete is switching to something along the lines of the OVC or Sun Belt. All we do is lose. We are the champions of losing. Thompson Boiling Arena should be hopping the rest of the season as the Vols pour in their 40-50 points a game. Thanks for nothing Cuonzo.
I look forward to our 5-7 or 6-6 football season next year. At least at this point we've all gotten used to being nothing.
jamgod writes:
The top brass at Tenn has driven this once proud program into the dirt. I know missing maymon is going to hurt the team becaus Stokes is a joke...how is it that he was rated a five star player. Not sure about Conzo Martin...yeah good def but we can't score at all. How do you go from scoring 80 or 72 to to not scoring at all? Anyways, hope Butch Jones can do some good things with the FB program or Tenn might as well join the wac confrence...
tennisvol writes:
Steal and layup by Bama
Steal and layup by Bama
Steal and layup by Bama
Game over.......
PureOrange writes:
Painful!
When watching this team, you have to wonder what they spend time on at practice, if indeed they have practice.
TheFuj writes:
Will be lucky if we get a NIT appearance
TheFuj writes:
Not going to win many games with a more than double turnover ratio. TN 16 TO to AL 7.
Free throws again hurt. 50% from the free throw line just don't cut it. Stokes cannot even play in a close game due to his free throw issue. Maybe he should spend more time practicing FT's as opposed to the tatoo parlor.
Team just seems to be getting worse. Just like the Dooley teams.
Would like to see Martin lose his coat and work the officials more. That is part of the game. Coach K works them constantly. So does Cal at KY. Martin just seems to try to be cool and drinks a lot of water.
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