TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - Erwin Dudley had 25 points and Earnest Shelton matched a career high with 21 as No. 7 Alabama overcame a miserable second half start for a 95-82 victory over Tennessee on Saturday. <br>
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The Crimson Tide (22-4, 10-2 Southeastern Conference) took a two-game lead over No. 6 Florida in the league race despite missing their first 13 shots after halftime. <br>
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The Volunteers (13-12, 6-6) managed just nine points to take a 51-48 lead in that six-plus minute drought for Alabama. <br>
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But Demetrius Smith and Maurice Williams hit 3-pointers and Shelton converted a 3-point play to give the Tide the lead for good and start a 22-6 run over less than four minutes. <br>
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Antoine Pettway hit two 3s in a 20-second span and Smith had a steal and layup to give Alabama a 70-57 lead with 9:35 left. <br>
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The Volunteers, who had won five of the last six meetings, couldn't come closer than nine points after that. <br>
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Alabama hit 10 straight free throws in the final 2:53 to seal its 15th win in 17 games. <br>
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Dudley made 10-of-13 shots and scored 16 points in the first half to lead five double-figure scorers. Smith had a career-high 13 points and three steals and Williams had 11 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds to flirt with a triple double. <br>
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Marcus Haislip scored a career-high 30 points for the Volunteers, including 20 in the first half. Vincent Yarbrough added 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists while Jon Higgins had 11 points. <br>
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Alabama had hit just 9-of-61 3-pointers in its past four games, but was 9-of-24 against the Vols. <br>
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Both teams shot better than 50 percent in the first half, mostly thanks to three players. <br>
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Haislip, who had nine 3-pointers all season, was 4-of-5 in the half and didn't attempt one after that. Dudley made 7-of-8 shots and Shelton hit three 3-pointers and scored 12 points in a 14-1 spurt to give the Tide a 32-23 lead. <br>
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Alabama led 48-42 at halftime. <br>
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The game was a rematch of sorts. Tennessee first-year coach Buzz Peterson coached Tulsa to a win over the Tide in the NIT championship game last season.
