Tennessee Survives Overtime Thriller at Georgia

Vols coach Rick Barnes praises Georgia and discusses keys to the victory

Jan. 28, 2026 at 10:39pm

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Tennessee basketball survived an overtime thriller against Georgia, winning 83-82 on the road. Head coach Rick Barnes praised Georgia and its coach Mike White, while also discussing the strong performances from Tennessee players like J.P. Estrella and Nate Ament that helped the Vols secure the victory.

Why it matters

This win on the road against a tough Georgia team is an important one for Tennessee as they look to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the season. The Vols showed resilience in battling back and making the plays needed to win a close game on the road in the SEC.

The details

Tennessee trailed late in regulation but forced overtime, where J.P. Estrella made two big baskets early to help the Vols regain control. Tennessee's size and rebounding, led by Estrella and Felix Okpara, was a key factor, as was the strong play of point guard Nate Ament, who had 19 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists.

  • Tennessee and Georgia were tied at the end of regulation, forcing overtime.
  • Estrella made two crucial baskets early in the overtime period to give Tennessee the lead.

The players

Rick Barnes

The head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers basketball team.

Mike White

The head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs basketball team, whom Barnes praised as "one of the great coaches in the country".

J.P. Estrella

A Tennessee forward who made two key baskets in overtime to help the Vols secure the win.

Nate Ament

Tennessee's point guard, who had 19 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists in the game.

Felix Okpara

A Tennessee forward who, along with Estrella, provided strong rebounding and interior play for the Vols.

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What they’re saying

“One, just so much respect for Mike White. I mean, I think he's truly one of the great coaches in the country. And I've always had great admiration for him. And (Georgia is a) really hard team to prepare for because he's just going to get the most out of his guys.”

— Rick Barnes, Tennessee Head Coach

“When he starts rebounding, he does a good job talking. And he did, again, he came up big. When he goes up and gets it with two hands, he's really a force. The more he's out there, again, the better he's going to get.”

— Rick Barnes, Tennessee Head Coach

“Nate is getting so. I mean, I've told you guys, I think he's been great all year. Everybody, I don't know what they expected but for a guy learning to play on the perimeter both offensively and defensively, it's a hard thing to do coming in at this level knowing that you got a huge target on your back every single night with somebody trying to go after you.”

— Rick Barnes, Tennessee Head Coach

What’s next

Tennessee will look to build on this road win when they host a tough Auburn team in their next game.

The takeaway

This hard-fought victory on the road against a quality Georgia team shows the resilience and potential of this Tennessee squad, as they continue to develop key contributors like J.P. Estrella and Nate Ament to complement their veteran leadership.