Four players scored in double figures Saturday night and No. 4 Tennessee again stifled No. 14 Alabama's high-scoring attack to post an 81-74 win in Tuscaloosa, Ala., giving it sole possession of first place in the Southeastern Conference.
Zakai Zeigler scored 18 points for the Volunteers (23-6, 13-3), who own a one-game lead over the Crimson Tide (20-9, 12-4) and No. 18 South Carolina (24-5, 12-4). Tennessee can take another step toward clinching the SEC regular-season title and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament with a victory Wednesday night at South Carolina.
Dalton Knecht was held to 13 points on 5-of-14 shooting but hit a big runner in the lane with 2:23 left for a 72-69 Tennessee lead. On the next possession, Josiah-Jordan James drilled a corner 3 to make it 75-70. Tennessee sealed the outcome by going 6-of-8 at the line in the final 29 seconds.
Jonas Aidoo contributed 12 points and seven rebounds for the Volunteers, while James chipped in an 11-point, 13-rebound double-double.
Mark Sears scored 22 points to lead Alabama, while Aaron Estrada added 16 and eight rebounds. Nick Pringle came off the bench for 13 points and nine rebounds. But the Tide made just 23 of 60 field goal tries (38.3 percent) and 9 of 37 3-pointers (24.3 percent).
Tennessee controlled most of the first half with a poised, connected effort that stood in contrast to Alabama's borderline frantic style of play. Jordan Gainey made two foul shots at the 10:53 mark for a 23-12 lead, quieting the sellout crowd at Coleman Coliseum.
The lead was still 10 when James drained a 3-pointer with 3:47 left when the Tide finally put together the kind of run they've used to take games over all season. They rattled off 12 straight points to end the half, getting a layup by Estrada with 24 seconds remaining for a 41-39 edge at the break.
Alabama made a couple of 3-pointers during the run and finished the half at 7-of-20 from the arc, while the Volunteers hoisted 21 and hit just five.
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