Alabama Stuns Tennessee 71-69 with Last-Second Shot | NCAA Basketball

Alabama Stuns Tennessee 71-69 with Last-Second Shot | NCAA Basketball

March 1, 2026 Carlos Moreno - Sports Editor Sports

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Labaron Philon Jr.’s late-game heroics propelled No. 17 Alabama to a hard-fought 71-69 victory over No. 22 Tennessee Saturday night at the Food City Center. The sophomore guard scored 13 of his 23 points in the final six minutes, including the go-ahead jumper with 24 seconds remaining, securing the Crimson Tide’s season-high eighth consecutive win.

The victory was particularly significant for Alabama (22-7, 12-4 SEC), who had lost five straight games to Tennessee in Knoxville. It marked their first win over the Volunteers since 2021.

Latrell Wrightsell led all scorers with a season-high 25 points, shooting 6-of-9 from three-point range. Aiden Sherrell anchored the defense with a team-best eight rebounds and all four of Alabama’s blocks. However, it was Philon’s clutch performance off the bench that ultimately proved decisive.

Tennessee (20-9, 10-6 SEC) was led by Ja’Kobi Gillespie, who finished with 26 points, seven assists, and five rebounds. The Volunteers’ night was further complicated by an injury to standout freshman Nate Ament, who suffered what appeared to be a right knee injury in the first half and played limited minutes thereafter.

A Tale of Two Halves

The first half belonged to Tennessee, who dominated the glass and capitalized on early Alabama turnovers. The Volunteers grabbed 16 offensive rebounds, leading to 17 second-chance points and a 40-28 halftime lead. Gillespie spearheaded the Tennessee offense, scoring 15 points before the break.

Alabama struggled to find its rhythm early, committing four turnovers in the opening minutes. Despite a late push fueled by two three-pointers from Wrightsell, the Crimson Tide couldn’t overcome Tennessee’s rebounding advantage and efficient offense.

The second half saw a dramatic shift in momentum. Alabama came out firing, starting the half on a 4-of-4 shooting run to quickly cut the deficit to four. While Tennessee responded with an 11-4 run of their own, Alabama refused to fade away.

Throughout the second half, Alabama chipped away at the Tennessee lead, fueled by Wrightsell’s hot shooting and Philon’s emergence. The Crimson Tide tied the game at 67-67 with 2:32 remaining, setting the stage for a tense final stretch.

Philon Seals the Deal

With the game tied and under a minute remaining, Alabama coach Nate Oats called a play to get the ball in Philon’s hands. A screen set by Aiden Sherrell created a 1-on-1 opportunity against Tennessee’s J.P. Estrella. Philon patiently worked his defender, faking a drive before spinning, fading, and hitting a contested jumper over the 6-foot-11 Estrella with 24 seconds left on the clock.

Tennessee had one final opportunity to tie or win the game, but Ja’Kobi Gillespie’s layup attempt at the buzzer rimmed out, securing the victory for Alabama.

Oats Praises Resilience, Sherrell’s Impact

Alabama head coach Nate Oats acknowledged the difficulty of the win, praising his team’s resilience. “I have tremendous respect for Coach (Rick) Barnes and how he conducts his program,” Oats said. “They have had their way with us here recently. It is great that we got the win. I am not sure we deserved it, but we fought hard.”

Oats also highlighted the crucial role played by Aiden Sherrell, stating, “My MVP of the game is Aiden Sherrell, we can’t win the game without him inside. We got destroyed on the glass and that is what this team does. They had 25 offensive rebounds and we only had 21 defensive rebounds.”

Looking Ahead

Alabama will continue its road trip, heading to Athens to face the Georgia Bulldogs on Tuesday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT and will be televised on ESPNNews. Tennessee will visit South Carolina on Tuesday night.

Key Stats

  • Alabama has now won 10 straight games with at least 10 three-pointers.
  • The Crimson Tide shot 37 percent from three-point range (10-of-27).
  • This was Alabama’s third double-digit comeback victory of the season.
  • Alabama led for only 24 seconds of the game, compared to Tennessee’s 36 minutes and 37 seconds.
  • Aiden Sherrell recorded his 11th game of the season with three or more blocks.
  • Tennessee outrebounded Alabama 47-30, including a significant 25-9 advantage on the offensive glass.