ATLANTA - Rod Grizzard and Alabama showed just how potent they can be this postseason. <br>
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Grizzard scored a career-high 33 points, including 27 in the first half, to carry the eighth-ranked Crimson Tide to a 91-72 victory over Tennessee in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference tournament this afternoon. <br>
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The regular-season champion Tide (25-6) set the tone early by hitting three-pointers and letting their quick guards drive to the basket. Alabama, chasing its first tournament title since 1987, jumped to a 22-point lead in the first half and pushed it to 71-40 in the second. <br>
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The Volunteers (15-16) failed to qualify for the postseason despite a late onslaught from Vincent Yarbrough, who had 23 points and 12 rebounds. <br>
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Grizzard scored 20 straight points for Alabama in the first half, finishing 13-of-20 from the floor and 6-of-10 from three-point range. <br>
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Marcus Haislip had 17 points for Tennessee. <br>
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This one was over quickly, with Alabama building a 49-29 halftime lead.
