John Petty scored 30 points for Alabama against Tennessee Saturday.
One week after losing at the buzzer against Texas A&M, Alabama lost a different kind of heartbreaker this Saturday.
The Crimson Tide fell 71-68 to No. 3 Tennessee, coming up just short of its first road win over an AP top-five team since 2004.
With Alabama down by one and in position for a potential game-winning score, John Petty — who had 30 points and six 3-pointers for the Tide — was whistled for traveling with 3.2 seconds remaining in the game. Kira Lewis then missed a last chance heave at the buzzer after Tennessee hit two free throws.
After trailing 44-32 at halftime, Alabama opened the second half on a Petty-led 13-0 run and took a 45-44 lead 3:27 into the second half.
While the Crimson Tide led with as little as three minutes remaining, the Vols (16-1) held on for the win largely thanks to some late defensive stops, a block of a Petty 3 attempt with 1:24 remaining, that late traveling call and some bad free throw shooting from the Tide.
Alabama (11-6) didn't have any made field goals during the final 3:18 of the game and finished 8 of 18 from the free throw line, including 4 of 13 in the second half.
Alabama has dropped three of its last four games since its big win over Kentucky Jan. 5, including the two heartbreakers these past two Saturdays.