NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee leaned on late defensive stops and key minutes from its frontcourt to secure a 69-65 road win over Vanderbilt on Saturday at Memorial Gymnasium.
The Volunteers held the Commodores scoreless over the final 2:25, limiting them to 0-for-5 shooting during that stretch to seal the victory.
Tennessee opened with crisp ball movement and interior finishes. Nate Ament found Ja’Kobi Gillespie for early layups, and Felix Okpara was active in the dunker spot before foul trouble altered the rotation.
Okpara picked up his third foul just 20 seconds into the second half and later his fourth with 13:50 remaining, forcing Dewayne Brown into extended minutes.
The freshman delivered.
He provided steady paint defense, rebounded through traffic, and scored key baskets to keep Tennessee within striking distance. His banked finish midway through the second half gave the Volunteers their first lead since the early stages of the game, 53-51.
Brown played 30 minutes and recorded 8 points and 4 rebounds.
Tennessee’s defense flipped the momentum.
The Volunteers held Vanderbilt scoreless for nearly nine minutes spanning the end of the first half and the start of the second. During that stretch the Vols erased a deficit and briefly taking a 37-35 advantage. Even when Vanderbilt regained control behind a late Duke Miles three, Tennessee responded with composure.
Gillespie drilled a three to tie the game at 60 with less than three minutes remaining, setting up a tense finish.
In the closing moments, Tennessee made the plays that mattered.
Felix Okpara contested a critical shot at the rim, preventing a clean look and battling for the rebound. After Vanderbilt retained possession briefly, Gillespie stepped to the line and converted two free throws to give Tennessee a 68-65 lead.
On the final defensive stand, Amari Evans secured the would-be final defensive rebound and drew a foul with 1.8 seconds remaining. He made the second free throw to extend the lead to 69-65, putting the game on ice.
Tennessee’s late-game defense proved decisive. The Volunteers forced stops, controlled the glass, and executed at the free-throw line to secure a critical SEC road victory.
