Tennessee walked into Coleman Coliseum on Saturday and walked out with a statement win, knocking off No. 17 Alabama 79-73 in a gritty SEC showdown. The Vols, now 13-6 overall and 3-3 in conference play, showed serious resilience, battling back from an early 10-point deficit and outlasting a tough Crimson Tide squad on their home floor.
This marks five straight wins for Tennessee over Alabama - and this one might be the most impressive of the bunch. The Vols fell behind 22-12 in the first half but never panicked.
They chipped away, stayed composed, and turned up the defensive intensity when it mattered most. By halftime, Alabama still held a narrow 39-36 lead, but the tide - pun intended - was clearly beginning to turn.
Nate Ament was nothing short of electric for Tennessee. The forward poured in a game-high 29 points, showing off the full offensive arsenal.
He shot 10-of-20 from the field, knocked down two of his three attempts from deep, and was nearly automatic at the line, hitting 7-of-9. But Ament wasn’t just scoring - he also grabbed seven boards, dished out three assists, and added a steal in a well-rounded performance that set the tone for the Vols.
Ja’Kobi Gillespie kept his foot on the gas as well, continuing his strong season with another 20-point outing - his ninth of the year. He finished with 24 points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals, constantly applying pressure on both ends of the floor. Gillespie’s ability to create his own shot and break down Alabama’s defense was a key factor in Tennessee’s comeback effort.
Freshman Bishop Boswell added nine points and pulled down five rebounds, while J.P. Estrella chipped in with six points and matched him with five boards of his own. Both players contributed in the hustle categories - Estrella and Boswell each added a steal, and their energy helped Tennessee dominate the glass.
And that’s where the Vols really separated themselves. Tennessee outrebounded Alabama 42-33, creating extra possessions and limiting second-chance opportunities for the Tide.
Defensively, the Vols were locked in. They held Alabama to just 34% shooting from the field and forced seven turnovers, converting those into seven points on the other end.
That kind of defensive effort - especially on the road - is what wins tough SEC games in January.
On Alabama’s side, Labaron Philon did everything he could to keep the Crimson Tide in it. The guard dropped 26 points and added seven assists, four rebounds, and a steal in a strong individual performance. But outside of Philon, the Tide struggled to find consistent offense, especially in the second half when Tennessee’s defense tightened the screws.
This was a win that showcased Tennessee’s toughness, depth, and ability to close - three things that become even more important as the SEC schedule grinds on. For Alabama, it’s a tough home loss that drops them to 13-6 overall and 3-3 in the conference, and they’ll need to regroup quickly with more key matchups on the horizon.
But for the Vols, this was a team win in every sense. They took a punch early, steadied themselves, and then delivered the knockout blows late. Five straight over Bama - and this one might be the sweetest yet.