After back-to-back losses at the buzzer, Tennessee kept its confidence and, most importantly, regained its destructive defensive intensity.

Zakai Zeigler had 15 points and 8 assists, Jonas Aidoo added a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double, and the 10th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers handed the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide their first SEC loss of the year on Wednesday. The Volunteers (20-6, 9-4 SEC) used a smothering second-half defense to win 68-59.

It’s the first time all season Alabama has been held under 65 points in a game. But this is hardly new for Tennessee; Wednesday’s result was the 17th time this season the Vols held their opponent under 60 points.

Alabama (22-4, 12-1 SEC) moved up to the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 on Monday of this week, marking the first time the Tide stood atop the college basketball rankings in 20 years.

The Tide went into Rocky Top with just a single loss since Christmas. Throughout the first half, it looked exactly how you’d expect a heavyweight bout to look. The score was tied at 29-all at the break.

Then Tennessee turned up the heat on defense.

Over the final 20 minutes, Alabama got only a handful of clean looks from the field. The Tide shot just 35% in the game and couldn’t buy a bucket in the second half, when they were outscored by 9.

Bama had nearly as many turnovers in the second half (7) as it did made baskets (9).

Brandon Miller led the Tide in scoring, with 15 points and 10 rebounds on 4-of-11 shooting before fouling out. Jaden Bradley added 14 points and Nimari Burnett pitched in 11 off the bench.

The loss for Alabama marked the 8th time this season that an AP No. 1 team has lost. That’s tied for the most in a single regular season in the AP Poll era (since 1948-49), according to ESPN.

Tennessee heads to Kentucky on Saturday for a 1 p.m. ET tip on CBS. Alabama hosts Georgia on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.