Tennessee Men's Basketball Cruises Past Oklahoma, 89-66

Freshman Nate Ament scores career-high 29 points as Volunteers dominate Sooners

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The Tennessee men's basketball team defeated Oklahoma in commanding fashion, 89-66, on Wednesday night at Food City Center. Freshman forward Nate Ament led all scorers with a career-high-tying 29 points for Tennessee (19-7, 9-4 SEC) in a contest it never trailed and led for all but 63 seconds. Senior guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie set a program single-game record with a career-high eight steals.

Why it matters

This victory continues Tennessee's strong season and keeps them in contention for a top seed in the SEC tournament. The Volunteers' defensive pressure and balanced scoring attack proved too much for Oklahoma to handle, showcasing the team's potential as they head into the final stretch of the regular season.

The details

Tennessee jumped out to an early 12-point lead and never looked back, shooting over 52% from the field and forcing 15 Oklahoma turnovers. Ament scored 17 of his 29 points in the second half, while Gillespie's eight steals set a new program record. The Volunteers also dominated in the paint, outscoring Oklahoma 46-18.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The players

Nate Ament

A freshman forward for Tennessee who led all scorers with a career-high-tying 29 points.

Ja'Kobi Gillespie

A senior guard for Tennessee who set a program single-game record with a career-high eight steals.

Felix Okpara

A senior forward for Tennessee who finished with 18 points, the second-best figure of his career and his top tally in SEC play.

DeWayne Brown II

A freshman forward for Tennessee who scored 13 points, tying a career high and setting a new SEC best.

Nijel Pack

A redshirt senior guard for Oklahoma who paced the Sooners with 20 points.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The Tennessee Volunteers basketball team takes a trip to Nashville, Tennessee, for an in-state showdown against No. 19/18 Vanderbilt at Memorial Gymnasium, live on ESPN at 1:00pm CT (2:00pm ET).

The takeaway

Tennessee's dominant performance against Oklahoma showcases the team's depth and defensive prowess, positioning them as a formidable contender in the SEC as they head into the final stretch of the regular season.