The Tennessee Volunteers secured a 73-63 win over the Louisiana State Tigers, led by Nate Ament's impressive 22-point, 9-rebound performance. With this victory, Tennessee improves to 18-7 on the season, while Louisiana State falls to 14-11. The Volunteers' 10-point margin of victory was fueled by a strong first-half showing, where they outscored the Tigers 35-29. Ament's 22 points marked his 10th game this season with 20 or more points, and his 9 rebounds were just one shy of his season-high 10 rebounds in a game.
Nate Ament's 22 Points Marked His 10th 20-Point Game of the Season
The game unfolded with Tennessee taking an early 15-8 lead, thanks in part to Ament's 10 first-half points. However, Louisiana State fought back to narrow the deficit to 6 points by halftime, with Marquel Sutton leading the charge with 8 points and 5 rebounds in the first 20 minutes. The second half saw Tennessee push its lead back to double digits, with J.P. Estrella and Ja'Kobi Gillespie contributing 16 and 12 points, respectively. The Tigers made a late push, but ultimately fell short, scoring 34 points in the second half compared to Tennessee's 38. The Volunteers' ability to outscore LSU by 4 points in the second half sealed their 10-point victory. Tennessee's 38 second-half points were the most they have scored in a half since their 85-69 win over Auburn on January 28.
Nate Ament and Marquel Sutton were the top performers for their respective teams, with Ament posting 22 points and 9 rebounds, and Sutton contributing 15 points and 9 rebounds. For Tennessee, J.P. Estrella added 16 points and 9 rebounds, while Ja'Kobi Gillespie chipped in with 12 points and 6 assists. On the other side, Jalen Reece and Pablo Tamba scored 15 and 13 points, respectively, for Louisiana State. Ament's 22 points marked the 5th time this season he has led the Volunteers in scoring, and his 9 rebounds were the 10th time he has grabbed 8 or more rebounds in a game.
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Tennessee outrebounded Louisiana State 42-36, with Ament and Estrella combining for 18 rebounds. The Volunteers also outshot the Tigers from the field, making 45.8% of their shots compared to LSU's 38.5%. Tennessee's 73 points were the 15th time this season they have scored 70 or more points in a game, and their 10-point margin of victory was the 10th time they have won by 10 or more points. The Volunteers' 42 rebounds were the most they have grabbed in a game since their 80-65 win over Kentucky on January 21.
The CHD Scout model correctly predicted a Tennessee victory, forecasting an 85-69 win for the Volunteers with a 15.4-point margin. While the actual score was 73-63, the model was correct in predicting the winner and was only off by 5.4 points in terms of the margin. The model's accuracy in predicting the outcome of this game brings its overall record to 12-5 on the season, with a mean absolute error of 4.2 points. The model's correct prediction of a Tennessee win was fueled by its forecast of Ament's 20-point performance, which was just 2 points off from his actual total of 22 points.
This win was a Quadrant 2 victory for Tennessee, improving their resume for potential NCAA Tournament seeding. The Volunteers now boast an 18-7 record, with a NET ranking of 22. For Louisiana State, this loss was a Quadrant 1 game, and they fall to 14-11 on the season with a NET ranking of 65. Tennessee's 10-point victory marked the 5th time this season they have won a Quadrant 1 or 2 game, and their 18-7 record is the best in the Southeastern Conference. The Volunteers' NET ranking of 22 is the highest it has been all season, and their Quadrant 2 win over LSU was a key factor in their ranking improvement.
Tennessee's next game is on February 18 against the Auburn Tigers, while Louisiana State will face the Arkansas Razorbacks on February 19. The Volunteers want to build on their momentum from this win, while the Tigers will aim to bounce back from their 10-point loss. Tennessee's game against Auburn will be a key Quadrant 1 matchup, with the winner potentially improving their NCAA Tournament seeding. The Volunteers' 18-7 record and NET ranking of 22 make them a strong contender for a top-4 seed in the tournament.