KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee men's basketball team used a dominant second half to collect an 84-66 victory Tuesday night over Ole Miss at Food City Center, its fourth straight win.Despite playing without seniors Amaree Abram (illness) and Felix Okpara (injury),
No. 25/RV Tennessee (16-6, 6-3 SEC) trailed for just 78 seconds and built a lead as high as 27. Freshman forward Nate Ament led all scorers with 28 points in the triumph, 26 of which he poured in after halftime.
Freshman guard Patton Pinkins and senior guard A.J. Storr co-led Ole Miss with 15 points apiece. Senior guard Ilias Kamardine chipped in 11 points, while sophomore guard Eduardo Klafke added 10.
Ja'Kobi Gillespie scored 20 points. J.P. Estrella had 12. The Volunteers' 58 second-half points marked their third-most in any frame in the 11-year tenure of Rick Barnes.
Tennessee shot 54.8 percent (17-of-31) from the field, 38.5 percent (5-of-13) from deep and 73.1 percent (19-of-26) at the line in the final 20 minutes. It also finished the game with a 16-6 margin in fast-break points and an 18-9 tally in points off turnovers, despite committing just one fewer (eight) than it forced (nine).
The Volunteers now head to Lexington, Ky., where they meet Kentucky at Rupp Arena, with action slated for Saturday at 8:30 p.m., live on ESPN.