NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee basketball is in need of clean basketball in the Music City Madness at Bridgestone Arena.
The No. 13 Vols (7-2) have lost two in a row, and coming off a disappointing loss at Syracuse, where 17 turnovers were presented. No. 14 Illinois (6-2) is also coming off a loss, but haven’t played in over a week. The Illini dropped a tough game at UConn by double digits.
Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Nate Ament will be featured points of the offense, and they need strong games to get back on track. Ament in particular needs to see shots fall, as he is 8-for-33 (24%) from the field over his last three outings.
Illinois is led by a barrage of overseas talent. Andrej Stojakovic is one of the leaders of the pack at 16.3 points per game, but is coming off an abysmal three-point night against the Huskies where he shot 1-for-7 from the field.
Kylan Boswell is atop the scoring with 17.3 points per night, and is coming off a 25-point game against UConn. The Vols have already had multiple tastes of Boswell’s game, facing him last season with the Illini and once in 2022 while he was a member of the Arizona Wildcats. He is averaging 5.0 points per game in those two contests, playing a combined 35 minutes.
Follow along for live updates from Bridgestone Arena.
Live updates
FINAL: Illinois 75, Tennessee 62
The Vols let the game slip away. Tennessee shot 30% from the field, and only remained in the game via 23 offensive rebounds and 22 second-chance points. Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Nate Ament combine for 24 points on 10-for-34 shooting.
3:55 2H: Bishop Boswell drains a three, then Ivisic hits one and Gillespie adds another, then Ivisic adds another. Back-to-back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers and Barnes needs a timeout.
6:01 2H: Illinois 63 Tennessee 54
The Illini jump out on a 10-3 run to bring it to an 11-point lead, then Ament gets a layup to fall. Tennessee is letting this game slip away.
9:51 2H: Illinois 53, Tennessee 49
Illinois drills a corner three to build momentum. The Vols are clinging on, but will slowly let this game slip away if the pendulum does not swing back soon.
11:30 2H: Illinois 48, Tennessee 47
Both sides are navigating a tight whistle. Tennessee is saying in it, and got help from an incredible layup through contact from Amaree Abram.
14:42 2H: Illinois 44, Tennessee 42
Jaylen Carey reels in offensive rebounds on back-to-back possessions, and it leads to five points. The Vols are in this because they are dominating the offensive glass.
19:45 2H: Kylan Boswell drops in a layup to get the second-half scoring underway.
HALFTIME: Tennessee 34, Illinois 32
The Vols are in the lead due in part to a 14-rebound margin. Tennessee has 13 boards on just the offensive side, while Illinois has 11 in the entire game. Lopsided effort on the glass and effort is exactly why the Vols have lead.
1:26 1H: Bishop Boswell drains a corner three to tie the game at 32.
3:23 1H: Bishop Boswell with an incredible effort play to secure an offensive board, and then Jaylen Carey gets one. Then powers strong to the rim for the finish. Tennessee playing with effort. At 12 offensive boards so far.
6:20 1H: Ja’Kobi Gillespie gets a three to fall on one end, Kylan Boswell gets a tough layup to fall and then Amari Evans runs the floor for a tough layup on the other end. Tomislav Ivisic drains a corner three with the shot clock expiring on the next possession.
The split crowd is roaring as a timeout is called with Illinois possessing a four-point lead.
10:42 1H: Amari Evans checks into the game and immediately draws a foul on an offensive rebound attempt.
11:58 1H: Illinois 13, Tennessee 10
A physical game is what this is early. Both teams are defending the paint extremely well.
13:44 1H: Amaree Abram drills a three for the first make beyond the arc for Tennessee, knotting the game at 9-all.
15:50 1H: Illinois 7, Tennessee 4
It has been a sloppy game so far, with two early Tennessee turnovers already.
17:08 1H: Kylan Boswell is down on the court for Illinois, favoring his left shoulder.
19:19 1H: Nate Ament gets a layup to fall for the first basket of the night.
20:00 1H: Tennessee wins the opening tip
How to watch Tennessee basketball
The Vols and Fighting Illini will take the court for an 8 p.m. ET tipoff on ESPN. Karl Ravech will handle play-by-play duties while Jimmy Dykes analyzes.
On the radio dial, listeners can tune to their local Vol Network affiliate. Mike Keith will be joined by analyst Chris Lofton.
Starting lineups
Tennessee
Guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie
Guard Bishop Boswell
Forward Nate Ament
Forward Cade Phillips
Center Felix Okpara
Illinois
Guard Andrej Stojakovic
Guard Kylan Boswell
Guard Keaton Wagler
Forward David Mirkovic
Center Tomislav Ivisic
