This time, it’s for real.
Tennessee basketball is ready and raring to open up its quest for a national championship, a path it hopes begins on a chilly November evening against Mercer. The No. 18 Vols fell in a marquee exhibition matchup with Duke a little over a week ago, gaining some valuable reps while learning much about themselves in the process.
Highly-touted freshman Nate Ament is set to make his official collegiate debut after posting a double-double against the Blue Devils in front of a capacity crowd. The Manassas, Virginia, product connected on just five shots from the field, going without a make from three-point land. The poor shooting showing is something the 6-foot-10 forward looks to greatly improve upon. He paced Tennessee with 10 rebounds in 33 minutes of action.
Transfer guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie led Tennessee with 19 points, but also posted a sloppy 5-for-19 showing from the field. He spread the ball around in playmaking fashion, racking up eight assists in his team-high 36 minutes.
Follow along for live updates from The Daily Beacon.
Live updates
FINAL: Mercer 61, Tennessee 76
1:34 2H: Ament grabs the team lead with 18 points, exiting for the final time with nine boards.
3:46 2H: Amari Evans enters the game for his first college minutes.
3:46 2H TO: Vols have committed 19 turnovers on the night. Mercer has turned it over just three times.
5:40 2H: Mercer has connected for three straight triples to make it a 62-49 game.
7:23 2H TO: Ament grabs the team lead with 11 points, just one rebound shy of a double-double. Carey needs three points for the same mark.
9:03 2H: Nate Ament bangs home his first career three, growing the lead to 58-35.
10:33 2H: Armani Mighty misses both free throws, drawing the loudest crowd pop of the evening. Everyone in attendance receives free Chick-fil-a
11:47 2H TO: Troy Henderson has heated up from distance with a pair of threes in the last handful of minutes. Tennessee leads 52-32.
15:25 2H TO: Tennessee works its way to a 44-27 advantage. Estrella sits at 10 points while Carey has 10 boards.
17:09 2H: Gillespie hits from deep for his and Tennessee’s second triple, extending the Vols’ lead to 39-25.
18:02 2H: Jaylen Carey draws a foul and finishes with a basket, converting the free throw for the Vols first tallies of the half.
18:53 2H: Quinton Perkins II connects with a jumper to give Mercer the first points of the half.
20:00 2H: Bishop Boswell inbounds the ball to begin the second half.
HALFTIME: Mercer 21, Tennessee 33
3:54 1H TO: Tennessee is five of its last six shooting but has already accumulated 10 turnovers.
4:37 1H: Brady Shoulders connects on the Bears’ first triple to cut their deficit to 25-17.
7:55 1H TO: Mercer has missed its last seven shots while Tennessee works its way to a 19-12 lead.
9:30 1H: Felix Okpara picks up his second foul.
10:17 1H: Ja’Kobi Gillespie hits from three-point land for the Vols’ first triple of the evening. Tennessee is on a 13-2 run.
11:46 1H TO: Tennessee has made four of its last five shots, leading 12-10 on 43% shooting.
12:43 1H: DeWayne Brown II gives Tennessee its first lead up 10-8. Vols are on a 6-0 run.
15:47 1H TO: Vols start just 1-for-7 from the field, turning it over twice in the opening minutes.
17:52 1H: Jaylen Carey puts back a rebound for Tennessee’s first points.
18:28 1H: Connor Serven drives for a layup for the first points of the game.
20:00 1H: Tennessee wins the opening tip.
Starting lineup:
Mercer:
– Zaire Williams (G)
– Baraka Okojie (G)
– Brady Shoulders (G)
– Connor Serven (F)
– Armani Mighty (C)
Tennessee:
– Ja’Kobi Gillespie (G)
– Bishop Boswell (G)
– Nate Ament (F)
– Jaylen Carey (F)
– Felix Okpara (C)
Officials
– Pat Adams
– Jason Baker
– RB Clyburn
How to watch Tennessee basketball vs. Mercer
The Vols and Bears will be featured on SEC Network+, only available via a subscription on the ESPN app. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. ET. with Myan Patel, Steve Hamer and Sarah Detwiler calling the action for ESPN.
On the radio side, Mike Keith will be joined by John Wilkerson on local Vol Network affiliates around the state.
Rick Barnes begins his 11th season
After leading the Vols to consecutive Elite 8 appearances for the first time in program history, Rick Barnes is back for his 11th year as Tennessee head coach. He boasts a 232-109 record at the helm, looking to break through to the Final Four for the first time in program history.
