Tennessee Routs South Carolina Behind Estrella, Okpara

Vols lead wire-to-wire in final road game of the season

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Tennessee basketball got back in the win column Tuesday night, routing South Carolina 78-59 behind massive scoring outbursts from Felix Okpara and JP Estrella. The Vols led wire-to-wire in their final road game of the season.

Why it matters

This win keeps Tennessee in contention for a high seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, as the Vols look to make a deep postseason run. The strong performances from Estrella and Okpara also demonstrate the team's depth and versatility, which will be crucial in the tournament.

The details

Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes praised the play of his forwards, Estrella and Okpara, who combined for a dominant inside presence. Barnes also highlighted the impressive performance of point guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie, who had 12 assists and just one turnover, setting up his teammates for easy scoring opportunities.

  • The game took place on Tuesday night, March 4, 2026.

The players

Rick Barnes

The head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers basketball team.

JP Estrella

A Tennessee forward who had a big scoring night against South Carolina.

Felix Okpara

A Tennessee forward who also had a strong performance in the win over South Carolina.

Ja'Kobi Gillespie

Tennessee's point guard, who had 12 assists and just one turnover in the game.

Amari Evans

A Tennessee freshman guard who stepped up in his first start with Nate Ament sidelined.

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What they’re saying

“What did I like about those two guys? We said that we talked about it all year playing inside out. And again, I, obviously I love the way those guys did it. But got to give a lot of credit to Ja'Kobi (Gillespie). (South Carolina was) determined they were going to make it a hard night for him. And the fact he had, what, 12 assists, maybe, what, one turnover, I just thought his command of the game from our standpoint was really impressive.”

— Rick Barnes, Tennessee Head Coach (rockytopinsider.com)

“You know he did (step up). I'm not surprised because I watch him every day. I watched him compete all summer. And I thought playing 32 minutes, he really did a good job. I thought he was really locked in to what we were trying to get done on both ends of the court.”

— Rick Barnes, Tennessee Head Coach (rockytopinsider.com)

What’s next

Tennessee will look to continue its strong play as it prepares for the upcoming NCAA Tournament. The Vols will need to maintain their inside-out offensive balance and stifling defense to make a deep postseason run.

The takeaway

Tennessee's win over South Carolina showcases the team's depth and versatility, with multiple players stepping up to contribute. The Vols' ability to dominate in the paint and distribute the ball effectively will be crucial as they aim for a deep NCAA Tournament run.