Vols Beat Tide In OT

Chris Lofton scored 20 points, JaJuan Smith added 16 and Tennessee rallied to beat Number 25 Alabama 69-to-66 in overtime tonight. The Volunteers (19-and-9, 7-and-6 Southeastern Conference), still hoping to get an at-large bid to the N-C-double-A tournament, improved to 15-and-oh at home this season. The Crimson Tide (19-and-8, 6-and-7) came back from nine points down in the second half and struggled with a season-high 26 turnovers. Alabama took the lead midway in the second half until Tennessee regained the lead on a pair of free throws by Lofton. Alabama's Ronald Steele forced overtime by tying it at 60 when he scored with seven-point-four seconds left in regulation and Lofton's shot at the buzzer was way off. In overtime, Alabama scored the first four points, but Lofton hit a three with two-58 remaining. Tennessee didn't trail again, but it was a frantic ending. Alabama's Jermareo Davidson was fouled going for a rebound with 9.6 seconds left and made both free throws to cut it to 67-66, but Tennessee's Duke Crews dunked at the other end to seal the win.