TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama big man Donta Hall started the game with a dunk, and did the same to open the second half.
It was that kind of night for both No. 15 Tennessee and the Crimson Tide.
Hall had 17 points and 11 rebounds and Collin Sexton scored 16 points to lead Alabama to a 78-50 victory Saturday night over the Volunteers, putting a big chill on the SEC's hottest team.
"I saw a level of concentration and tenacity and hunger and feeling unafraid to make mistakes," Tide Coach Avery Johnson said. "And when we did, we just bounced back.
"The focus was there. You could see it during all the timeouts. They were ready to play."
Alabama (16-10, 7-5) thoroughly dominated the Vols (18-6, 8-4) around the basket and cashed in on a number of fast-break chances.
Hall made 8 of 10 field goals and blocked three shots. Tennessee had no answer to Sexton's quick darts to the basket, and the freshman also had four assists.
He took the ball all the way for layups after a couple of defensive rebounds, the first time sending the ball behind his back to avoid a defender on his way to the basket.
John Petty had 14 points and made 3 of 4 three-point attempts for the Tide. Alabama dominated the second half, 41-23.
Tennessee had only one scorer in double digits. Grant Williams scored 12 of his 16 points in the second half. Vols Coach Rick Barnes said he was "baffled" by what he called "far and away the worst game we've played" coming off a 61-59 road victory over No. 24 Kentucky.
"Rough night. I think that with this group, I don't think I felt that we could be that bad," Barnes said. "Not to take anything from Alabama because I thought they did pretty much whatever they wanted to do."
Alabama seemed to be operating at a different speed after leading by 10 at the break, opening the second half with three dunks and a fast-break layup.
"We were just running," Sexton said. "I feel like when we're running, we're just at our best."
The Vols came in on a six-game winning streak and hadn't allowed any of those opponents more than 63 points.
In other SEC men's games Saturday, Jared Harper scored 24 points and No. 8 Auburn, playing without top scorer Bryce Brown, showed impressive depth by beating Georgia 78-61. Mustapha Heron had 19 points for Auburn (22-3, 10-2 SEC). Yante Maten led Georgia (13-11, 4-8) with 20 points. ... Florida continued to solidify its postseason prospects with a 65-41 victory over South Carolina. Florida (17-8, 8-4 SEC) never let South Carolina get within 15 points in the second half. Frank Booker scored 17 for South Carolina (13-12, 4-8). ... Kassius Robertson hit five three-pointers and finished with 22 points and Kevin Puryear scored five of his 13 points after regulation to help Missouri beat Mississippi State 89-85 in overtime. Jordan Geist had 17 points, Jordan Barnett scored 15 and Jontay Porter 10 for Missouri (17-8, 7-5 SEC), which has won four in a row. Peters led the Bulldogs (18-7, 6-6) with 22 points, Nick Weatherspoon scored 15, Holman added 14. ... Duop Reath scored 26 points, Skylar Mays added 17 points and LSU beat reeling Mississippi 82-66. Aaron Epps had 11 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks, and Tremont Waters added 11 points and 8 assists for the Tigers (14-10, 5-7 SEC). Bruce Stevens and Deandre Burnett each scored 16 and Breein Tyree scored 10 for Ole Miss (11-14, 4-8).
Sports on 02/11/2018