Tennessee 95

NKU 56

NKU wasn’t really able to hang with the athleticism and defensive prowess of Tennessee today. The first 7 or so minutes were held together by Donovan Oday. After that though, Tennessee controlled the game and pulled away. They led 52-31 at the half, and the second half was more of the same, with UT dominating 43-25. 

NKU moves to 1-1 on the year.

Tennessee is now 2-0. 

Food City Center, Knoxville, TN | Attendance 18661

Date: 11/8/2025

NKY’s Rapid Takeaways:

• This game went exactly how it was supposed to, all credit to Tennessee for executing their game plan and taking NKU seriously before moving ahead. We’ve seen too many highly rated teams look well ahead rather than taking it one game at a time this week. 
• Tennessee’s Nate Ament is legit must-watch. The kid is under the radar because of how good the freshman class is, but he is going to be great this year. 
• NKU needs to find some positives (Oday’s performance, 9 steals) and burn the rest of the game film. 
• The Norse cannot shoot 5-13 from the FT line throughout this year. This plagued them last year and cannot continue or it will cost them games. 
• When things get tense, NKU needs to continue looking for their shot, rather than starting to heave bad three pointers; when they did that, UT was able to pull away and the game never got close again. 

The Good, Bad, and Ugly: NKU vs. Tennessee

The Game:
NKU entered Knoxville as a heavy underdog — 28 points, according to most analytical models — so the final result wasn’t exactly shocking. However, when viewed through that lens, the Norse actually showed a handful of encouraging signs against the best teams they’ll face all season.

The Good:
Donovan Oday was the clear bright spot for NKU. In the opening 10 minutes, he went toe-to-toe with Tennessee’s elite length and athleticism, setting the tone. He finished with a solid 14 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist, committing only two turnovers. What stood out most was his decision-making — Oday consistently found quality looks and avoided forcing bad shots, something few others on the roster managed.

The Bad:
Outside of Oday (6-10 from the field), the Norse offense simply couldn’t find rhythm. The rest of the roster combined to shoot 14-for-48 (29%), and when the Vols tightened their defensive screws midway through the first half, NKU’s shot selection deteriorated. That lapse allowed Tennessee to stretch the lead and seize control before halftime.

This has been a recurring theme dating back to last season; one player carrying the scoring load while the rest of the offense struggles to create efficient looks. The Norse must find ways to generate more balanced scoring and avoid long, stagnant stretches against high-pressure defenses.

The Ugly:
There’s no sugarcoating Tennessee’s dominance — their athleticism, physicality, and defensive intensity were on full display. For NKU fans, though, this isn’t the matchup to panic over. No other team on the Norse schedule will replicate the talent Tennessee has. 

From Tennessee’s side, the Vols did what they were supposed to do — but they did it in impressive fashion. Their plan to dismantle NKU’s matchup zone with perimeter shooting worked flawlessly, as Ament, Gillespie, and Estrella each made strong contributions. The chemistry among that trio continues to develop, and these early games provide invaluable reps before conference play ramps up.

One minor critique for Tennessee: ball security. The Vols turned it over 12 times — not a disastrous number, but concerning given that NKU isn’t a team that typically forces many. As they face more aggressive defenses later in the season, that will be an area to monitor.

Final Take:
While the box score tells a predictable story, NKU will look to quickly move on from this and get back in the W column on Tuesday.  Tennessee, meanwhile, looked every bit the powerhouse they were projected to be.

Top Player Performances:

Tennessee: 

Nate Ament, the highest rated recruit in UT history led all scorers with 23 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 3 turnovers. 

Gillespie added 20/3/4 and 2 turnovers, and JP Estrella added 17/7/3 and 2 turnovers. 

NKU: 

As highlighted above, Oday had 14/2/1 with 2 turnovers and a steal. 

Kael Robinson added 14/8/2 and 3 turnovers with a block. Dan Gherezgher had 9/1/1 and 3 turnovers. He did add 1 steal. 

LJ Wells had 4/5/2 and 4 steals. He did, however foul out and had 3 turnovers. 

Ethan Elliot had a down night, producing a 6/1/2 night with a steal and a turnover. 

The Tale of the Tape:

NKU Shooting Splits:

Tennessee Shooting Splits:

• As mentioned above, both teams were sloppy with the ball at times. NKU had 15 turnovers to UT’s 12. 
• Tennessee won the rebounding battle 47-25.  They also had a 20 point advantage in the paint, 42-22. They were also significantly better off the bench (37-9).

What’s Next

• NKU plays again on Tuesday 11/11 @ ETSU | 7:00 ET, ESPN+
• Tennessee plays next on Wednesday 11/12 vs. North Florida | 7:00. ESPN+.