TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- For approximately 36 minutes today Tennessee (8-6, 0-2) looked poised to pick up a big SEC road win. The Vols ran into some trouble in trying to close the deal though, succumbing to Alabama's (9-6, 1-1) defensive pressure in the end and losing 68-65.

It was a hard fought game from start to finish with 11 ties and 10 lead changes between the two squads.

In the end though, it was Alabama's press, and Tennessee's inability to handle it, that was the difference.

Trailing 56-55 with 3:40 left in the game, Alabama's press generated three straight steals--two of them right at midcourt--which the Crimson Tide's Andrew Steele and Trevor Releford turned into six straight points to put Alabama up 62-55 with 2:55 left in the game.

It was the largest lead of the game for either team and a deficit that the Vols couldn't manage to erase.

Tennessee did manage to make it a one possession game and had the ball and a chance to tie with 19.9 seconds left on the clock.

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