Recap: Alabama vs. Tennessee

Tuscaloosa, AL (Sports Network) - Trevor Releford and Trevor Lacey scored 15 points apiece to help lift the Alabama Crimson Tide to a 68-65 win over the Tennessee Volunteers in SEC action at Coleman Coliseum.

Releford scored all 15 of his points in the second half, including a pair of free throws to seal the game with 7 seconds to play. Levi Randolph added 12 points and Andrew Steele scored 11 for the Crimson Tide (9-6, 1-1 SEC).

Jordan McRae scored 21 points to pace the Volunteers (8-6, 0-2), who suffered their third straight loss after winning their previous four outings. It marked the third straight game McRae led the team in scoring, although he was UT's only double-digit scorer on the afternoon.

The Vols grabbed their largest lead of the game at the 8:12 mark of the first half, as a jumper by McRae capped a 7-0 run and gave the visitors a 20-12 advantage. UT went on to take a 28-24 halftime lead after holding Alabama to 26.7-percent shooting (8-of-30) in the opening frame.

Alabama heated up in the second stanza, shooting 62.5 percent from the floor while going a perfect 12-of-12 at the foul line. The Crimson Tide seized control with a 10-0 run late in regulation, turning a 55-52 deficit into a 62-55 cushion with 2:55 remaining. Tennessee's Trae Golden had a decent look at a potential game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer, but his shot bounced off the back of the rim and Alabama prevailed.

The Tide were outrebounded by a 40-25 margin for the game, but they made up for it with that big second half and by winning the turnover battle. UA forced 16 turnovers while committing only seven in the contest.