Tennessee basketball score vs. Alabama: Live updates for Vols-Crimson Tide

Tennessee basketball now faces the top-ranked team in the countr after losing back-to-back games on buzzer-beating 3-pointers.

No. 11 Tennessee (19-6, 8-4 SEC) hosts Alabama (22-3, 12-0) on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2) after the Vols lost to Vanderbilt 66-65 on Feb. 8 and fell to Missouri 86-85 on Saturday.

Tennessee could be without two starters: senior Josiah-Jordan James (left ankle sprain) and freshman Julian Phillips (hip flexor strain). James did not play against Missouri after suffering the injury in the final minute at Vanderbilt. Phillips did not play in the second half against Missouri after starting against the Tigers.

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Second half

FINAL: Tennessee 68, Alabama 59. The Vols beat the No. 1 team in the country for the first time since 2018.

41.7 seconds left: Turnover No. 19 for Alabama. And Brandon Miller fouls out. Thompson-Boling Arena feels it. Court storm incoming?

51.9 seconds left: Jahvon Quinerly 3-pointer cuts the Vols' lead to 62-57. Here comes some fouling and free throws.

2:12 left: Alabama had it down to a 4-point game, but layups by Aidoo and Zeigler pushes it back out to 8. No. 1 may be going down.

5:20 left: Uros Plavsic and-one.

5:52 left: Jonas Aidoo putback is good. He has 10 points and 10 rebounds (also four fouls). Vols lead 53-45.

8:08 left: Brandon Miller has three fouls. Tennessee starting to work inside on offense. Vols lead 51-43, largest lead of the game.

11:05 left: Santiago Vescovi with another 3, but Nimari Burnett counters with a 3 on the other end to end the Vols' 7-0 run.

Tennessee 47, Alabama 43.

14:09 left: Brandon Miller has hit two 3-pointers in the half. Tie game.

16:53 left: There's a Vescovi 3. He needs to heat up. Vols by 5.

First half

HALFTIME: Alabama 29, Tennessee 29.

Both teams stingy. Tide back level despite the turnovers. Vols went final four minutes without a made basket. Tyreke Key 1-8 shooting, and Santiago Vescovi is 1-5.

3:10 left: Alabama up to 12 turnovers in the first half.

4:10 left: Two layups by Uros Plavsic, and Tennessee's lead is 26-18. 7-0 run.

7:42 left: Olivier Nkamhoua lob dunk. Wow. Vols by 4.

11:49 left: Vols lead 13-12. Both teams already rebounding the ball well on the offensive end. Tennessee's stifling defense has forced six Alabama turnovers, including one where Rylan Griffen dribbled himself out of bounds after being hounded by Jahmai Mashack.

13:05 left: For the third time today, Alabama struggles to get the inbounds pass in. Vols putting length on Alabama guard Jahvon Quinerly.

14:13 left: Zeigler and Brandon Miller trade 3-pointers. Vols by 1.

15:21 left: Two early 3s from the Tennessee backcourt of Zeigler and Vescovi. Vols lead 8-7 at the first media timeout.

Officials letting the two teams play early.

16:20 left: Olivier Nkamhoua and-one. Vols lead 8-5.

19:06 left: Alabama's Charles Bediako takes out Santiago Vescovi on a screen and is called for an offensive foul.

20:00 left: Alabama and Tennessee have tipped off. Tide center Charles Bediako is in the lineup.

Pregame: No Josiah-Jordan James or Julian Phillips

Josiah-Jordan James and Julian Phillips will not play for Tennessee basketball against top-ranked Alabama in about a half hour's time.

James sprained his left ankle in the loss to Vanderbilt last week, while Phillips is dealing with a hip flexor strain.

James could have been the primary defender against Alabama freshman star Brandon Miller but will miss out on the assignment.

We're about 30 minutes from tip-off at TBA.

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Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee basketball score vs No. 1 Alabama: Live updates for Vols