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WATCH: Zakai Zeigler mocks Alabama crane kick celebration following upset win

Barkley-Truaxby:Barkley Truax•02/15/23•

BarkleyTruax

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(Howard/Getty Images)

No. 10 Tennessee handled business at home against No. 1 Alabama, and Volunteers guard Zakai Zeigler made sure to have the last laugh before walking off the court at the end of the game. He mocked the Crimson Tide’s traditional crane kick celebration when the final buzzer sounded.

Zeigler’s fingerprints were all over the Vols’ offensive efforts, finishing with 15 points and eight assists during the 68-59 victory.

Check out the final moments of Tennessee’s upset, including Zeigler’s disrespectful celebration below:

The loss gives the Crimson Tide their first loss in conference play. It’s also the eighth time No. 1-ranked team has been upset this season — the eight upsets are the most in the AP era.

Rick Barnes reacts to Tennessee’s upset victory over No. 1 Alabama

Tennessee had a rough week, ending up on the wrong end of back-to-back buzzer-beaters. But all that was washed away Wednesday night when the Vols knocked off No. 1 Alabama.

The game was tied 29-29 at halftime before Tennessee outscored the Crimson Tide 39-30 after the break to come away with the 68-59 victory. Although the offense didn’t play great — the Volunteers shot 36.5% from the field and 26.1% from three-point territory — the defense rose to the occasion to keep stymy the high-powered Crimson Tide offense.

It was quite a performance, and Rick Barnes basked it all in afterward.

“Just a great effort, all the way around for 40 minutes,” Barnes told ESPN2’s Alyssa Lang. “We beat a terrific basketball team. When you’ve been in it this long, you always have to believe that what goes around comes around. 

“Tonight, it was a great night for us. I’m just so proud of the effort our guys made, especially defensively. The crowd, the most underrated crowd in college basketball. A great win. … A great team effort.”

Tennessee entered Wednesday’s game coming off two straight losses. First, it was Vanderbilt to knock off the Vols with a buzzer-beater. Then, it was Mizzou, doing the same just three days later.

But the effort didn’t go away, and Barnes said that was the key to handing Alabama its first conference loss of the season.