Buzzer-Beater Secures Tennessee's 79-76 Victory Over Alabama

By: Audrey Gillespie 

March 1, 2025

Tennessee's Jordan Gainey takes a jump shot against Alabama at Thompson-Boling Arena, amidst an energized crowd.

KNOXVILLE, TN — No. 5 Tennessee emerged victorious over No. 6 Alabama thanks to a dramatic 35-footer buzzer-beater by senior guard Jahmai Mashack in a thrilling basketball game at Thompson-Boling Arena, setting the stage for the upcoming month of March. This was Tennessee's first real buzzer-beater at home since November 17, 1997.

Senior guard Mashack said, “It's one of those games you'll never forget, and it's one that I hope sticks with Tennessee’s history forever. I hope it remains in fans' hearts, seeing the effort and the impact that I could leave on the floor, not for me but for the team and the fans, and to go out there, I do everything I can for them, and I'm hoping this is something that will be remembered forever with Tennesse basketball.”

The game began with both teams gaining momentum. Both sides played back and forth for the first half, maintaining a tight score. Tennessee established a narrow 33-29 lead with under five minutes remaining due to fifth-year guard Darlinstone Dubar, who got his second three-pointer of the half. Alabama responded with a strong 10-0 run, recovering control and leading 42-38 at halftime.

The game was physical, characterized by intense battles that featured several scoring runs and periods of drought. By the first half's midway point, Tennessee had committed 10 fouls compared to Alabama's 8.

Tennessee began the second half on a strong note, as Igor Milicic Jr. hit a three-point jumper with an assist from Chaz Lanier in the opening minute. In response, Alabama went on an 8-2 scoring run, regaining a seven-point lead at 50-43. Alabama maintained its pressure and grew its advantage to a game-high nine points at 62-53 with a little over 10 minutes left.

Alabama head coach Nate Oates said, "Tough way to lose. You gotta give Tennessee a lot of credit for not quitting when we had them down nine…These guys compete hard."

A sea of orange, lights shining bright, and cheers louder than ever—Thompson-Boling Arena lit in every sense.

Tennessee refused to back down. Tennessee senior guard Zakai Zeigler sparked a comeback with two key three-pointers. With 6:49 left in the game, his deep shot tied the score 66-66, energizing the home crowd. Gainey then put Tennessee ahead for the first time in the second half, scoring two free throws to make it 70-68 at 4:06. However, Alabama quickly answered with a three-pointer from Mark Sears, regaining the lead 73-70. Alabama then held a 76-72 advantage with just 36 seconds left, forcing Tennessee into a tricky situation. With 30 seconds left, Mashack made two free throws that tied the score at 76. 

Senior Guard Jordan Gainey said, “We knew what we were getting into. We knew it would come down to a one-possession game, especially games like this. It’s March as we know, and crazy things happen in March”.

With 3.8 seconds left, Mashack forced a jump ball. The Volunteers took advantage of a five-second violation during the inbound play to regain possession. Zeigler passed the ball to Mashack, who made a shot from near midcourt as the clock ran down to 0.3 seconds. The ball swished through the net, and the stadium flooded with cheers. Mashack's teammates rushed to celebrate with him on the court before running to both sides of the student section to share in the exciting moment. 

Tennessee Head Coach Barnes said, "To be honest, I was calling a timeout. I didn't see the play…I made one good coaching move today. I didn't tell the referee that I was going to call a timeout. I usually tell them."

The game gave a taste of the high-stakes atmosphere both teams will bring to March Madness. This victory generated momentum for both teams' preparation for the tournament, showcasing the intensity and competitiveness of top-level college basketball.