#4 Vols Off to Best Start Since 1942, Defeat Tide

Tuesday, January 9

Knoxville

TBA

University of Tennessee

15-1, 2-0

Alabama

12-2, 1-1

Alabama

Tennessee

January 09, 2001 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Tennessee used a decisive 21-6 run to open the second half and eventually posted an 86-69 victory over Alabama at Thompson-Boling Arena.

The two teams battled back-and-forth during the first half with neither team able to build more than a five-point lead. Tennessee led 38-35 at the break.

The Vols then got things rolling during the first six minutes of the second half. Jon Higgins led the charge with eight points during that stretch including two three-pointers as the Vols opened up a 59-41 lead.

"I had good looks at the basket," Higgins said. "Tony was able to get me the ball, and the big guys set good screens for me. It is fun to get a roll like that."

Higgins tied a career-high with 13 points and was one of the five Vols in double figures. Vincent Yarbrough led UT with 18 points and eight rebounds. Ron Slay had eight rebounds in addition to his 14 points.

Isiah Victor finished wih 12 points, and Tony Harris had 10 points and handed out seven assists. The Vols had 20 assists in the game to go with their 30 field goals.

Tennessee limited the Tide to 34.6 percent shooting from the field including 6-of-31 from the three-point range. Alabama got an outstanding effort from Erwin Dudley who had a game-high 23 points and 14 rebounds. Ron Grizzard was held to eight points which is 10 below his season average.

Notes: Tennessee's 15-1 start is its best since the 1942 season...The Vols have won 10 in a row against ranked teams at home...The Vols played their first home game since Dec. 7...Tennessee ran its homecourt winning streak to 15 games...This was the first time that Tennessee and Alabama were both ranked when playing each other since Jan. 30, 1982, when No. 13 Alabama beat No. 15 Tennessee 77-72 in overtime in Tuscaloosa.