Tennessee Dominates South Carolina Without Nate Ament

Vols' big men step up in 78-59 victory over Gamecocks

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Tennessee Basketball snapped a two-game losing streak with a dominant 78-59 victory over South Carolina on Tuesday night. The Vols were without star freshman Nate Ament but got huge performances from their big men, led by JP Estrella's 22 points and Felix Okpara's 20 points. Tennessee outscored South Carolina 56-22 in the paint, with the quartet of Estrella, Okpara, Jaylen Carey, and DeWayne Brown accounting for nearly 63% of the Vols' scoring.

Why it matters

This win helps Tennessee bounce back after consecutive losses and keeps them in the hunt for a high seed in the SEC Tournament. The Vols proved they can win without Ament, their leading scorer, which bodes well for their postseason chances.

The details

Freshman Amari Evans started in place of the injured Ament and contributed 7 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals. Ja'Kobi Gillespie dished out a career-high 12 assists, consistently finding the open big men for alley-oops. Tennessee's dominance in the paint was the key to the victory.

  • Tennessee played this game on Tuesday, March 4, 2026.
  • The Vols will host Vanderbilt in their regular-season finale this Saturday, March 8, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. ET.

The players

Rick Barnes

The head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers basketball team.

JP Estrella

A Tennessee player who scored a game-high 22 points in the win over South Carolina.

Felix Okpara

A Tennessee player who scored 20 points in the victory.

Nate Ament

Tennessee's leading scorer who missed the game due to injury.

Amari Evans

The Tennessee freshman who started in place of the injured Nate Ament.

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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)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

Tennessee will host Vanderbilt in the regular-season finale this Saturday, March 8, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. ET.

The takeaway

This win shows that Tennessee can win without their leading scorer Nate Ament, as their big men stepped up in a big way. The Vols proved they have the depth and versatility to compete at a high level in the SEC Tournament and beyond.