Tennessee Volunteers Dominate Ole Miss 84-66 Behind Nate Ament’s Second-Half Surge

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — In a commanding display Tuesday night, No. 25 Tennessee extended its winning streak to four games with an 84-66 victory over Mississippi, fueled by Nate Ament’s 26-point second-half performance.

The Volunteers (16-6, 6-3 Southeastern Conference) overcame a tight first half, leading 26-25 at halftime, before breaking the game open in the second half. Ament, who finished with 28 points, scored the majority of his output after the break, including a pivotal three-point play following a turnover by Ole Miss guard AJ Storr with 6:15 left on the clock.

Ole Miss coach Chris Beard was ejected late in the game after receiving two technical fouls, a turning point that allowed Tennessee to hit three free throws and maintain momentum. Ja’Kobi Gillespie added 20 points, J.P. Estrella contributed 12, and Bishop Boswell chipped in 10 as Tennessee controlled both ends of the floor.

For the Rebels (11-11, 3-6 SEC), Storr and Patton Pinkins led the scoring with 15 points each. Ilias Kamardine and Eduardo Klafke added 11 and 10 points respectively, but Mississippi could not overcome Tennessee’s dominance on the boards, which included a 46-30 rebounding advantage despite the absence of 6-foot-11 Felix Okpara due to a left calf injury. Okpara’s streak of 64 consecutive starts and 82 consecutive appearances dating back to 2023 was already paused by last week’s game against Auburn. Reserve Amaree Abram also missed Tuesday’s matchup due to illness.

Both teams struggled from the field in the first half, shooting 33 percent for Tennessee and 31 percent for Mississippi. Gillespie’s 10 first-half points helped the Volunteers hold a narrow 26-25 lead. Tennessee’s efficient second-half adjustments, combined with Ament’s scoring burst, widened the gap and secured the win.

Tennessee’s return to the AP Top 25 comes after dropping out following a January 17 loss to Kentucky, where the Volunteers surrendered a 17-point lead. This victory solidifies Tennessee’s SEC outlook and strengthens its position for March tournament consideration. Mississippi, facing its fourth consecutive loss, continues a challenging stretch with seven of its first ten SEC games played on the road, including an ice-storm-related rescheduling in Oxford earlier this month.

Tennessee will travel to Lexington to face Kentucky on Saturday, while Mississippi visits Texas the same day, marking critical matchups for both programs as the SEC season approaches its midpoint.