Feb 22, 2007, 3:50 GMT
Knoxville, TN - Chris Lofton poured in 20 points despite a 6- of-22 shooting performance and Ramar Smith's jumper in overtime proved to be the difference as Tennessee downed No. 25 Alabama, 69-66, at Thompson-Boling Arena.
JaJuan Smith added 16 points with seven rebounds and Wayne Chism had 11 points with six boards for the Volunteers (19-9, 7-6), who have won four of their last five games.
Mykal Riley posted 15 points for the Crimson Tide (19-8, 6-7 SEC), who have dropped three of four. Richard Hendrix scored 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Jermareo Davidson contributed eight points and pulled down 15 boards in defeat.
In the extra session, two free throws and a dunk by Hendrix put Alabama up by 64-60. Lofton, though, drained a trey and Duke Crews' tip-in with 1:51 left made it a 65-64 affair in favor of the Vols.
Smith then hit a jumper with 35 seconds remaining to put Tennessee up by three before Davidson converted twice from the line as the Crimson Tide cut it to 67-66 with 9.6 seconds left.
Alabama failed to foul the Vols while Crews was found wide open at the other end of the court and dunked to account for the final margin of victory.
In the first half, Tennessee went up by 10 after Ryan Childress' tip-in, but Alabama scored six straight points and trailed 30-26 at the half.
The Volunteers led by as many as eight in the second, however, they surrendered the lead when Riley drilled a three-pointer to put Alabama up 50-48 with 9:16 remaining.
Then, after Justin Tubbs' jumper gave the Crimson Tide a 58-53 edge, Tennessee went on a 7-0 spurt -- led by five points from Lofton -- for a two-point lead.
With 7.4 seconds left in regulation, Mikhail Torrance hit a jumper for Alabama to send the game into overtime knotted at 60.
Game Notes
Smith finished with nine points.Tennessee shot just 33 percent (27-of-81) from the field, while Alabama finished 44 percent shooting.The Crimson Tide outrebounded the Vols, 52-41.Alabama scored 42 points off the bench.
Smith finished with nine points.
Tennessee shot just 33 percent (27-of-81) from the field, while Alabama finished 44 percent shooting.
The Crimson Tide outrebounded the Vols, 52-41.
Alabama scored 42 points off the bench.
© 2007 The Sports Network
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