Basketball rolls on.
After taking care of business against Mercer to open the season, Tennessee basketball hosts the Northern Kentucky Norse for a 3 p.m. ET tip at Food City Center.
The Vols overcame 19 turnovers against the Bears on Monday, defeating Mercer 76-61. Nate Ament led the way with 18 points in his debut. Northern Kentucky, meanwhile, exploded on the offensive end in its season opener, defeating UC Clermont 126-69. Kael Robinson dropped 22 points in 17 minutes to lead scoring efforts. Six Norse reached double digits on the stat sheet in the win.
“Darrin Horn is a really good coach,” Tennessee assistant coach Amorrow Morgan said. “He’s coached in his league before, when he was at South Carolina. They’re going to be scrappy. They’re going to play really, really hard. They’re a different style of team. They’re going to try to run their matchup zone, which has given people fits in the past.”
Tennessee has never played Northern Kentucky on the hardwood in its history. It is the first matchup of three this season with an opponent the Vols have never played, joining North Florida and South Carolina State later in nonconference play. Likewise, Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes has never coached against the Norse in his storied 39-year head coaching career.
Cade Phillips is in line to make his first career start against the Norse.
Live updates
FINAL: Tennessee 95, Northern Kentucky 56
JP Estrella goes for a career night, posting 17 points, 11 boards and three assists. He was aided in the scoring department by true freshman Nate Ament, who went for a best 23 points, paired with 8 boards and four assists.
1:53 2H: Tennessee 88, Northern Kentucky 56
3:48 2H: Tennessee 83, Northern Kentucky 56
Estrella gets a shot to fall for a new career-high 14 points.
7:55 2H: Tennessee 78, Northern Kentucky 50
JP Estrella makes a turnaround floater to give himself a double-double on the day. Gillespie also drilled a logo three to bring his total to 18. Tennessee is rolling to the finish line.
11:53 2H: Tennessee 71, Northern Kentucky 43
Ament has drawn a foul on three straight possessions. He has converted three and-one opportunities in the second half.
13:07 2H: Tennessee 67, Northern Kentucky 43
Nate Ament continues to be a force driving to the rim, picking up another and-one opportunity with a foul call.
15:57 2H: Tennessee 61, Northern Kentucky 39
The Vols have been quiet to open the second half, but are maintaining a large lead in the early portion.
18:49 2H: Nate Ament draws a foul on the shot and drills the pair of free throws to open up second-half scoring.
HALFTIME: Tennessee 52, Northern Kentucky 31
Tennessee shoots 53% from the field and 53% from deep in the first half, holding the Norse to multiple scoring droughts. JP Estrella is near double-double territory with 8 points and 9 boards.
2.0 1H: Tennessee 52, Northern Kentucky 31
The Vols want a timeout to draw up the final play of the half.
2:56 1H: Tennessee 46, Northern Kentucky 25
The Norse have not scored in 2:05 and the Vols are running with it. Gillespie leads the way with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
7:29 1H: Tennessee 34, Northern Kentucky 21
The 3-ball is falling effectively, and the Norse want another timeout. Tennessee is 7-for-13 from deep.
11:13 1H: Tennessee 23, Northern Kentucky 12
The Norse want a timeout in the midst of an 18-2 run for the Vols. A steal and layup by Ja’Kobi Gillespie prompts the timeout.
15:07 1H: Tennessee 14, Northern Kentucky 10
Tennessee has already turned the ball over three times, but holds a lead as the offense is shooting 71% from the field.
16:11 1H: Nate Ament drills a wing three with contact, making the free throw for a four-point play.
19:44 1H: Cade Phillips plays bully ball down low for the first basket.
20:00 1H: Tennessee wins the opening tip.
Starting lineups
Tennessee
Guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie
Guard Bishop Boswell
Forward Nate Ament
Forward Cade Phillips
Center Felix Okpara
Northern Kentucky
Guard Dan Gherezgher
Guard Ethan Elliott
Guard Donovan Oday
Forward LJ Wells
Forward Kael Robinson
How to watch Tennessee basketball vs. Northern Kentucky
The Vols and Norse will be featured on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app. Zach Nelson will handle play-by-play duties while Steve Hamer will be on color for the matchup.
On the radio broadcast, Mike Keith takes the call on the local Vol Network affiliate. He will be joined by former Vols guard Chris Lofton for the action.
