Tennessee Volunteers Defeat Rutgers in Players Era Festival Opener

LAS VEGAS — The No. 20 Tennessee Volunteers men’s basketball team surged to an 85-60 victory against Rutgers on Monday at the Players Era Tournament, thanks to Ja'Kobi Gillespie‘s standout performance.

Gillespie scored a career-high 32 points while adding four assists in the game held at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The senior guard shone from beyond the arc, making six 3-pointers and shooting 50% from the field.

Tennessee (6-0) controlled the game from the start, building a lead that reached as high as 36 points. The Volunteers held a 41-22 advantage at halftime after a strong finish to the first half, where they scored seven unanswered points in the final minute.

In addition to Gillespie, freshman forward B.J. Ament contributed significantly with 20 points, including 17 scored late in the first half. Ament shot 6-of-8 from the field and demonstrated his offensive skills, hitting several contested shots.

Rutgers (4-2) struggled to keep pace, with Harun Zarno leading as the top scorer for the Scarlet Knights, netting 14 points. Darren Buchanan Jr. and Dylan Grant added 13 and 10 points, respectively, but Rutgers shot only 36.5% from the field.

The Volunteers were effective not just in scoring but also in securing rebounds, out-rebounding Rutgers 43-28 and forcing 13 turnovers. Tennessee shot 50.8% overall, including an impressive 50% from three-point range.

With this win, Tennessee improved to 3-0 in its history against Rutgers and is now set to face No. 2 Houston on Tuesday. The upcoming match is expected to be another test for the Volunteers in this competitive tournament.