LIVE UPDATES: Tennessee trails Alabama at the half

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Tennessee and Alabama enter Saturday night’s contest both at 11-3 in the SEC. The winner will take over sole possession of first place in the regular season standings with just two regular season contests remaining.

Live updates will begin when the game tips off at 8:00 EST.

FIRST HALF

After his best game of the season came on the road earlier this year at Kentucky, Josiah-Jordan James got off to a hot start in Tuscaloosa, hitting a corner three to give the Vols an early 6-4 lead.

With a 7-5 lead, Dalton Knecht quieted the crowd with a slam dunk off a Santiago Vescovi steal.

Jonas Aidoo found himself in foul trouble early, picking up his second at the 15:23 mark of the first half.

15:23 FIRST HALF | TENNESSEE 9, ALABAMA 5

Dalton Knecht opened the night hitting three of his first four shots to give the Vols a 13-10 lead.

Zakai Zeigler hit Tennessee’s second three of the night to extend the lead to 18-12.

Santiago Vescovi made the Vols’ third three to give UT its largest lead at 21-12.

Tobe Awaka also picked up his second foul, giving both he and Jonas Aidoo two fouls early on.

11:43 FIRST HALF | TENNESSEE 21, ALABAMA 12

The Vols forced Mark Sears to pick up his second foul just before the under-8 media timeout.

Jordan Gainey began the game with seven quick points to lead the Vols in scoring.

Alabama’s three point shooting allowed the Tide to pull within six points at the under-8 timeout.

7:20 FIRST HALF | TENNESSEE 28, ALABAMA 22

In the blink of an eye, Tennessee’s double-digit advantage turned into just a four point lead thanks to Alabam’s high-powered offense.

A corner three from Davin Cosby Jr. cut the lead to one at 30-29.

Off a Dalton Knecht offensive rebound, Jahmai Mashack made his first shot of the evening, a corner three to give Tennessee a 36-29 lead.

4:22 FIRST HALF | TENNESSEE 36, ALABAMA 29

Out of the media timeout, Josiah-Jordan James’ second three of the night extended a Vol run to 9-0, giving Tennessee a 39-29 lead.

Dalton Knecht picked up his second foul of the night on an offensive foul. Two of Tennessee’s five starters sat at two fouls late in the first half.

Alabama followed Tennessee’s 9-0 run with an 8-0 run of its own, to pull within two points.

1:34 FIRST HALF | TENNESSEE 39, ALABAMA 37

Josiah-Jordan James became the third UT starter to pick up two first half fouls.

Alabama closed the half on a 12-0 run to take a 41-39 lead into the locker room.

HALFTIME | ALABAMA 41, TENNESSEE 39

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