The 6th ranked Crimson Tide lost a crucial game on a backbreaking three pointer at the buzzer on Saturday afternoon in Knoxville. The 4th ranked Tennessee Vols made plays down the stretch and the Tide did not. UT outscored Bama 7-0 over the last 30 seconds of the game in a meltdown of epic proportions. Alabama fell to 23-6 overall and 12-4 in the SEC while Tennessee improved to 24-5 overall and 11-5 in conference play. This was a gut-wenching loss for the Tide in a game that they had in hand late.
Bama continued with the starting lineup of Mark Sears, Labaron Philon, Chris Youngblood, Grant Nelson, and Clifford Omoruyi. The first half was back and forth for most of the period. The Tide made a surge and gave away a chance to have a nice halftime lead by missing seven free throws, too many layups and point blank shots to count, and allowing a length of the court basket and free throw by the Vols at the buzzer. A lead that was 42-35 was cut to 42-38 on the way into the locker room.
In the first half Alabama shot 15-28 for 54% including 4-10 for 40% from three point range. The 8-15 free throw shooting for 53% is unacceptable. The Tide grabbed 19 rebounds, dished out five assists, had one blocked shot, five steals, and turned the ball over only five times. Sears led the way with 12 points and was helped by Philon with eight points, and three assists.
Tennessee shot 13-34 for 38%, 4-14 from three for 29%, and made 8-10 free throws. The Vols had 18 rebounds, eight assists, one block, two steals, and committed eight turnovers. Chaz Lanier led the team with 12 points and Jordan Gainey added nine points at the break.
The Tide kept the same starting lineup for the second half, and were able to work their way out to an eight point lead at 59-51 with 11:50 left in the game. The Vols dissolved that lead in a matters of minutes and with 6:49 left the game was tied at 66 each. Over the next few minutes neither team could find the hoop and the score was deadlocked at 70-70 with 3:31 left. Sears made a clutch three with 1:52 left for a 73-70 Tide lead.
With 1:06 left Bama led 75-72 and seemed in control. With the same lead and only 36 seconds left, Philon went to the line, but made only one of two for the four point lead. Unfortunately that was the last point the Tide would tally, while the Vols would score seven more. Tennessee made a basket down low and were fouled by Nelson. Alabama coach Nate Oats replaced big rebounders Omoruyi and Mo Dioubate with Sears and Youngblood, expecting a made free throw and UT to foul the Tide. Alas, things didn’t work out that way. The shooter missed the free throw and Jarin Stevenson was called for a push as both teams fought for the rebound. This time Tennessee made both freebies to tie the game 76-76.
The Tide had 30 seconds in which to work with to tray and win the game. Philon tried to drive the lane and as he was going down a Tennessee player put his hand on the ball which was enough for the officials to call a jump ball. It was Alabama’s turn for alternate possession, which didn’t turn out well.
Philon was selected to throw the ball in from under the basket, and somehow even with two timeouts left, was called for a five second violation to give the home team possession of the ball with 3.8 seconds left. This is a call that you rarely see, and there is a question if it was a correct one. Regardless, with two timeouts in his pocket Oats should have been hollering for a stoppage. The freshman Philon could have as well, but he had three several 5th year players on the court with him at the time. Tennessee then inbounded the ball to Jahmai Mashack, who dribbled twice and let go a prayer from 35 feet that hit nothing but the bottom of the net. The shot sent the Tide home on the wrong end of the 79-76 score.
In the second half Alabama shot only 10-32 for 31%, 5-14 from deep for 36%, and 9-11 at the charity stripe for 82%. Overall Bama shot 25-60 for 42%, 9-24 for 38% from three, and a costly 17-26 for 65% at the free throw line. Sears scored 24 with four assists and two rebounds. Philon had 13 points, four assists, two rebounds, one block, five steals, and two turnovers. Aiden Holloway was in double figures with 11 points. Dioubate scored eight points with six rebounds as he followed his fast for Ramadan. Nelson shot only 2-8 for seven points but did have 12 rebounds and two blocked shots. Omouryi had five points and seven rebounds with one block.
Tennessee shot 13-27 for 48% in the second half with 4-7 from deep and 11-16 at the free throw line. Overall the Vols shot 26-61 for 43%, 8-21 for 38% from three, and 19-26 for 73% at the charity stipe. Tennessee finished with 32 rebounds, 13 assists, five blocks, six steals, and committed 12 turnovers. Lanier and Gainey scored 18 points each to lead the team. Zakai Zeigler added 15 points with four assists, and Mashack finished in double digits with 11 after his game winner.
What a costly, heartbreaking, loss by the Tide. In a must win situation for hopes of an SEC Championship and number one seed, this may have ended those dreams. The meltdown in the last 30 seconds was uncharacteristic for the team. In similar situations Bama has been able to close out the game. To lose to one of your biggest rivals in their house when you had the game in hand is just another slap in the face. Sears was terrific, as he has been over the last month or so. Youngblood gave him almost no help with a 1-4 shooting, two point performance. Philon did many good things, but the plays in the last minute will be what is remembered. Holloway was 3-6 from deep, but after being fouled on one attempt, the normal sharp shooting guard missed all three free throws.
After the game Oats put the loss on himself saying “I was not good the last 30 seconds of the game, they outplayed Tennessee for 39.5 minutes, and I failed the guys the last half minute.” “I made too many coaching mistakes in the last 30 seconds, and it cost us the game.”
Things don’t get any easier. Next up is home game with Florida on Wednesday 6 pm in a game that will be on either ESPN2 or ESPNU. To follow up on that is the regular season ending game at Auburn on March 8th at 1:30 p.m. and will be on ESPN. Closing out the season with three top five teams is a tough way to go.
Roll Tide
