Jahmai Mashack and Tennessee basketball shocks Alabama to end physical battle

Tennessee basketball shocks Alabama with a Jahmai Mashack buzzer-beater three-point shot to win the game and beat Alabama 79-76. 

It looked like Tennessee was about to suffer its sixth loss of the season and in conference play, but a couple of clutch performances from Mashack propelled the Vols ahead of their conference rival.

While Mashack had the buzzer-beater to win the game, it was what he did possessions prior to setting up the game-winning shot. It started with beating his man after a missed free throw shot and drawing a foul. He followed that by making two free throws and tying the game at 76 points.

Then, with the game on the line and the ball in his hands, Mashack takes the ball up the court and knocks down a long-range three-point shot to ice the game.

After Mashack's teammates stormed the court and smothered him in celebration, ESPN's Molly McGrath asked Mashack what his message was to his team in the final seconds of the game as the vocal and emotional heartbeat of this year's team. 

"I told them we know what we're built for," Mashack said as the entire team surrounded him. "We know who we are. This is what we've done every single day; don't question what it is. I don't care if we're down 20, I don't care if we're up 20, we stick to the gameplan, and that's what we've been doing. It's in our blood; it's who we are."

The Vols' defense showed up and did a great job limiting Alabama's explosive offense, which Mashack also contributed to Tennessee's defensive success. Alabama was coming off a 111-point performance in their midweek matchup against No. 24 Mississippi State.

While the win, Tennessee will be looking to lock up a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, as the Vols continue to show its toughness, fortitude, and effort every game. 

Chaz Lanier and Jordan Gainey shared the spot for the highest scorer in this game with 18 points a piece. Gainey is a huge reason Tennessee kept it close throughout the second half and could be a huge part of Tennessee's offense heading into the SEC and NCAA Tournament. 

Zakai Zeigler was also a factor in this game, scoring 15 points. That has become a trend for Tennessee's offense, which has leaned on the Vols' locker room leader on both ends of the court throughout conference play, not just to score but to do anything and everything for Rick Barnes and the Vols.

The Vols' win couldn't come at a better time. Tennessee starts March in the win column and will now move on to the final week of the regular season with a midweek matchup at Ole Miss on Wednesday at 9:00 PM ET.