Tennessee’s Jahmai Mashack drained a long 3 pointer at the buzzer as the No. 5 Volunteers rallied past the No. 6 Alabama Crimson Tide 79-76 in a Southeastern Conference battle on Saturday afternoon.
Vying with Alabama for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Volunteers (24-5, 11-5) trailed 76-72 with 36 seconds remaining, but Tennessee’s Chaz Lanier was fouled as he made a layup, and when he missed the free throw, Mashack was fouled on the rebound. Tennessee tied it on Mashack’s two free throws.
After forcing a five-second violation under the Alabama basket with 3.8 seconds left, Mashack, who totaled 11 points, six rebounds and three steals, got the ball, took four dribbles and sank a shot from halfway between the 3-point arc and midcourt for the winner.
Lanier and Jordan Gainey had 18 points apiece as Tennessee won its fourth straight game against the Crimson Tide (23-6, 12-4) and fourth overall. Mark Sears scored a game-high 24, and Labaron Philon and Aden Holloway had 13 and 11, respectively, as Alabama lost for the third time in five games.