University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
15-16
Alabama
25-6
Alabama Eliminates Vols from SEC Tournament, 91-72
March 08, 2002 | Men's Basketball
March 8, 2002
Box Score?|? Notes?|? Photo Gallery
ATLANTA - Rod Grizzard scored 33 points to lead Alabama to a 91-72 win over Tennessee in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament before 20,427 in the Georgia Dome.
Grizzard scored 27 first-half points, connecting on 10-of-17 from the field that included six three-pointers, to lead the Crimson Tide to a 49-29 halftime advantage. Led by Grizzard's hot shooting, Alabama led by as many as 22 points during the first half.
With Alabama leading 22-17 at the 8:15 mark, Grizzard scored the Crimson Tide's next 20 points during a 20-5 run that broke the game wide open.
"We got hit by an unbelievable individual performance by Rod Grizzard today," said UT head coach Buzz Peterson. "He was in a zone. He didn't have that kind of game against us earlier this year against us. Going into the game, we wanted to minimize Alabama's touches inside because they were only hitting about 28 percent of their three's. If they were going to beat us, they were going to have to do it from the outside."
Vincent Yarbrough led the Vols with 23 points and 12 rebounds, while Marcus Haislip added 17 points.
Alabama hit 10 three-pointers during the first half and ended the game with while the Vols managed just one during the first half.
The Vols trimmed Alabama's lead to 15 early in the second half, but could get no closer as the Crimson Tide coasted into Saturday's semifinals.
Alabama (25-6) advances to Saturday's semifinals against the winner of tonight's Kentucky-South Carolina game, while Tennessee's season ends with 15-16 mark.
