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WATCH: Santiago Vescovi connects with Olivier Nkamhoua for crazy lob vs. No. 1 Alabama

Barkley-Truaxby: Barkley Truax02/16/23BarkleyTruax
Olivier Nkamhoua
UT Sports

There hasn’t been a ton of offensive fireworks between No. 1 Alabama and No. 10 Tennessee during the first half. But, Santiago Vescovi and Olivier Nkamhoua were still able to light up Thompson-Boling Arena with an emphatic pick-and-roll alley-oop over the Crimson Tide defense.

The Vols took a 19-15 lead over Alabama with the slam, igniting the Tennessee offense and kept them ahead of the top-ranked Tide for most of the first half.

Check out the huge dunk below:

Alabama vs. Tennessee is one of the most important late-season SEC games all season long. Two of the top three teams the conference, both squads are both hoping to earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament when the season ends.

The Vols are the top-ranked three-seed right now, according to ESPN Bracketology expert Joe Lunardi. A win over ‘Bama would firmly secure Tennessee in the two-seed category, not to mention hand the Crimson Tide their first conference loss of the season.

Catch the rest of the game live on ESPN2.

Tennessee wing Josiah-Jordan James ruled out vs. Alabama with ankle injury

The matchup of the night in college basketball will take place in Knoxville, as Tennesseeplays host to No. 1 Alabama. A crucial showdown in terms of the SEC regular season title race, both head coaches have some injury concerns to worry about. For Rick Barnes, the Wednesday afternoon news is not positive.

Josiah-Jordan James will not play against Alabama, dealing with an ankle injury assistant coach Rod Clark to Jimmy Hyams of 99.1 The Sports Animal. Julian Phillips has been questionable throughout the week with a hip flexor. He is considered a game-time decision.

“Tennessee wing Josiah-Jordan James is out for Alabama game tonight with ankle injury, per UT assistant Rod Clark,” Hyams said via Twitter. “Julian Phillips is game-time decision with hip flexor.”

James did not play on Saturday during the heartbreaking loss to Missouri. His injury occurred in the waning moments of another tough loss against Vanderbilt. Now, a third straight game, arguably the most important one remaining on the schedule, will be missed by James.

In 16 appearances for James this season, he is averaging 9.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He is Tennessee’s leading rebounder and an important figure on the defensive end. With all of the weapons Alabama has at its disposal, losing somebody such as James severely hurts Barnes.