Tennessee Beats Auburn 77-69 Behind Nate Ament and Jaylen Carey

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee overcame a midgame challenge to defeat Auburn 77-69 on Saturday night, with standout performances from Nate Ament and Jaylen Carey keeping the Volunteers in control of Southeastern Conference play.

Ament scored 22 points, connecting on two three-pointers and converting 12 of 15 free throws, while also grabbing eight rebounds. Carey contributed 13 points off the bench on 5-of-9 shooting and added eight rebounds, providing a critical lift during key stretches. Ja'Kobi Gillespie added 11 points and five assists, and DeWayne Brown II totaled 10 points with seven rebounds, helping Tennessee maintain a consistent advantage.

Tennessee (15-6, 5-3 SEC) jumped to an early lead, scoring 13-4 to open the game and taking a 41-31 lead into halftime. Auburn responded in the second half as Sebastian Williams-Adams and Kevin Overton recorded early three-point plays, trimming the margin to 43-37. Keyshawn Hall, who led Auburn with 21 points, followed with a three-pointer while Elyjjah Freeman added a dunk, bringing Auburn within four at 53-49 with 11:19 remaining.

Tennessee answered with a 10-0 surge, featuring free throws from Evans and baskets from J.P. Estrella and Bishop Boswell, pushing the lead to 59-49 with nine minutes remaining. Auburn freshman Filip Jovic converted an offensive rebound into a three-point play to narrow the gap to 59-56 with seven minutes left, but Gillespie scored the final four points of a 6-0 run, securing a two-possession lead the Volunteers maintained to the final buzzer.

Auburn (14-8, 5-4 SEC) saw its four-game winning streak end, raising questions about consistency heading into a critical matchup against No. 23 Alabama this Saturday. Tennessee, on the other hand, continues to build momentum at home and looks to extend its SEC record against Mississippi on Tuesday.

The game demonstrated Tennessee’s depth and ability to respond to Auburn’s second-half surge. Ament’s free-throw efficiency and Carey’s bench scoring were pivotal, while Gillespie’s late-game composure highlighted the Volunteers’ strategic adjustments under head coach Rick Barnes.

For Auburn, maintaining offensive balance and reducing turnovers will be key in their upcoming contest against a ranked rival.