Tennessee's Gillespie sets school record with 8 steals in rout of Oklahoma

Ja'Kobi Gillespie's all-around performance fuels Volunteers' dominant win over Sooners

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Ja'Kobi Gillespie scored 16 points, set a school record with eight steals, and added eight assists to lead Tennessee to an 89-66 rout of Oklahoma. The Volunteers capitalized on 15 Oklahoma turnovers, outscoring the Sooners 31-7 in points off turnovers. Nate Ament led Tennessee with 29 points, while Felix Okpara added 18 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks.

Why it matters

Tennessee's stifling defense and ability to convert Oklahoma's turnovers into points were key factors in the lopsided victory. The Volunteers' win keeps them in the hunt for a high seed in the SEC tournament, while Oklahoma's struggles continue as they remain near the bottom of the conference standings.

The details

Gillespie's record-setting eight steals fueled Tennessee's dominant defensive performance, which capitalized on 15 Oklahoma turnovers. The Volunteers shot 52.4% from the field and outrebounded the Sooners 36-19. Nate Ament led all scorers with 29 points, while Felix Okpara and DeWayne Brown II also made significant contributions for Tennessee.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, February 19, 2026 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The players

Ja'Kobi Gillespie

A Tennessee guard who set a school record with eight steals and also contributed 16 points and eight assists in the win.

Nate Ament

The leading scorer for Tennessee, pouring in a game-high 29 points to go with six rebounds.

Felix Okpara

A Tennessee forward who had 18 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks in the victory.

Nijel Pack

The leading scorer for Oklahoma, tallying 20 points in the loss.

J.P. Estrella

A Tennessee starting forward who did not dress for the game and was replaced by Jaylen Carey.

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What they’re saying

“We must have been in their heads with our defense. Ja'Kobi set the tone early with those steals and we were able to capitalize on their mistakes.”

— Nate Ament, Tennessee Forward (statenews.net)

What’s next

Tennessee will look to continue their strong play as they prepare to face SEC rival Kentucky next weekend. Oklahoma will try to regroup and get back on track in their next conference matchup.

The takeaway

Tennessee's stifling defense and ability to convert turnovers into points were the keys to their dominant victory over Oklahoma. Ja'Kobi Gillespie's record-setting performance on the defensive end sparked the Volunteers, who remain in contention for a high seed in the SEC tournament.