Tennessee Vols Advance to Elite Eight After Sweet 16 Win Over Iowa State

Nate Ament and Ja'Kobi Gillespie lead Tennessee to victory in Chicago

Mar. 28, 2026 at 3:03am

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The Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball team defeated the Iowa State Cyclones 72-65 in the Sweet 16 round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament at the United Center in Chicago on March 27. Tennessee was led by strong performances from forward Nate Ament and guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie, who helped propel the Vols to the Elite Eight.

Why it matters

Tennessee's win over Iowa State marks the program's first trip to the Elite Eight since 2019, continuing their impressive tournament run. The Vols will now face the winner of the other Midwest Regional semifinal as they look to advance to the Final Four for the first time in seven years.

The details

Tennessee guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie scored a team-high 18 points, while forward Nate Ament added 16 points and 9 rebounds to lead the Vols to victory. Iowa State kept the game close throughout, but Tennessee's defense and timely shooting proved to be the difference down the stretch.

  • The game was played on March 27, 2026 at the United Center in Chicago.
  • Tennessee and Iowa State faced off in the Sweet 16 round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

The players

Ja'Kobi Gillespie

A junior guard for the Tennessee Volunteers who scored a team-high 18 points in the Sweet 16 win over Iowa State.

Nate Ament

A senior forward for the Tennessee Volunteers who contributed 16 points and 9 rebounds in the victory over Iowa State.

Killyan Toure

A guard for the Iowa State Cyclones who defended Ja'Kobi Gillespie during the Sweet 16 matchup.

Blake Buchanan

A forward for the Iowa State Cyclones who was defended by Nate Ament in the post during the game.

Milan Momcilovic

An Iowa State Cyclones forward who battled Nate Ament for rebounds in the first half.

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What they’re saying

“Our guys really stepped up and played tough, physical basketball tonight. Nate and Ja'Kobi led the way, and I'm proud of the effort from the entire team.”

— Rick Barnes, Tennessee Head Coach

“It's a tough loss, but I'm proud of the way our guys competed against a very good Tennessee team. We had our chances, but they made the plays down the stretch.”

— T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State Head Coach

What’s next

Tennessee will face the winner of the other Midwest Regional semifinal game in the Elite Eight on March 30th, with a trip to the Final Four on the line.

The takeaway

Tennessee's victory over Iowa State showcases the Volunteers' depth and resilience, as they continue their impressive NCAA Tournament run. With standout performances from Gillespie and Ament, the Vols have proven they have the talent and toughness to make a deep postseason push.