Tennessee Basketball Star Nate Ament Shines in SEC Tournament Win Over Auburn

Freshman forward dominates with 27 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks in comeback victory.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 11:39pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Tennessee basketball freshman forward Nate Ament delivered a standout performance, leading the Volunteers to a 72-62 win over Auburn in the SEC Tournament. Ament scored 27 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, dished out 4 assists and blocked 3 shots to power Tennessee's comeback victory.

Why it matters

Ament's breakout game comes at a critical time for Tennessee, as they look to make a deep run in the SEC Tournament and secure an NCAA Tournament berth. The Vols will need continued strong play from their young star to advance.

The details

Ament was sidelined with an injury in Tennessee's previous matchup against Vanderbilt, but he made his presence felt against Auburn. He focused on getting his teammates involved early, then took over the game in the second half, scoring in a variety of ways to lead the Vols' rally.

  • Ament knew he would be able to play in the game as early as the night before.
  • Ament played 32 minutes in the contest, logging a dominant stat line.

The players

Nate Ament

A freshman forward for the Tennessee Volunteers basketball team who had a standout performance in their SEC Tournament win over Auburn.

Rick Barnes

The head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers basketball team, who has worked closely with Ament to develop his all-around game.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Me and Ja'Kobi actually just talked about it in the hallway. It's different when you get to sit and watch the game, watch them practice. I can kind of understand the things we need to do better, what we are as a team, running to get the ball. A lot of my energy and focus today was trying to get the big men involved as much as possible because I think we're a dangerous team when our big mans are playing well.”

— Nate Ament, Tennessee Basketball Player

“I felt great. Felt pretty good (smiling).”

— Nate Ament, Tennessee Basketball Player

What’s next

Tennessee will face Vanderbilt in the next round of the SEC Tournament, a team they lost to earlier in the season. Ament and the Volunteers will need to come out strong and maintain focus for the full 40 minutes to advance.

The takeaway

Nate Ament's dominant performance against Auburn showcases his continued development and the Volunteers' potential when their young star is at his best. Tennessee will need Ament to sustain this level of play if they hope to make a deep run in the SEC Tournament and secure an NCAA Tournament bid.