Charles Bediako returns, scores 13 for No. 17 Alabama in loss to Tennessee

College basketball's new most controversial player had a solid individual performance on Saturday, but Charles Bediako and No. 17 Alabama fell to Tennessee 79-73 inside Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa. 

Bediako, who has played in the NBA G-League since 2023, was granted a temporary restraining order by a Tuscaloosa County judge on Jan. 21 that allowed him to play on Saturday. Bediako previously signed a two-way contract with the San Antonio Spurs and played for the G-League's Motor City Cruise as recently as Jan. 17. 

Bediako entered Saturday's contest less than four minutes into the game and threw down a thunderous dunk for his first points in an Alabama uniform in nearly three years. He ended the evening with 13 points in 25 minutes on 5-6 shooting from the field and a 3-4 mark from the foul line. 

Bediako also grabbed three rebounds and had two steals and two blocks. But his performance was not enough for the Crimson Tide (13-6, 3-3 SEC) to topple Tennessee and star freshman Nate Ament, who scored 29 points in a huge road win for the Volunteers (13-6, 3-3 SEC).