Ja’Kobi Gillespie scored 23 points for No. 20 Tennessee, which brushed off the cobwebs to score an impressive 83-62 victory over No. 11 Louisville on Tuesday in Knoxville, Tenn.
Playing for the first time in 10 days, the Volunteers (8-3) ended a three-game losing streak by using their size to stifle one of the country’s most potent offenses. Tennessee held the Cardinals (9-2), who entered Tuesday ranked seventh nationally averaging 94.3 points per game, to a season-low point total.
Louisville played short-handed as Mikel Brown Jr., the team’s starting point guard and second-leading scorer, was a late scratch due to a back injury.
The freshman’s absence loomed large early as the Cardinals, who average just 10.9 turnovers per game, made six in the first 11 minutes. Tennessee took advantage, using a 14-2 run to take a 19-9 lead after a J.P. Estrella layup with 12:39 to go in the first half.
After holding a 34-27 edge at halftime, the Volunteers stepped it up in the second half, with Gillespie taking over. Tennessee shot 58.3% in the final 20 minutes and finished at a season-high 54.7%. Gillespie scored 20 in the second half, making four of his six shots and going 10-for-10 at the line.
Nate Ament added 13 points for the Volunteers, and Jaylen Carey posted 12 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.
Ryan Conwell led Louisville with 22 points. Adrian Wooley, who replaced Brown in the starting lineup, added a season-high 19.
Tennessee limited Louisville to 7-of-34 shooting from beyond the 3-point arc. Both the number made and the 20.6% accuracy were season lows for the Cardinals, who also tied a season high with 16 turnovers.
The Volunteers enjoyed a 34-3 bench scoring advantage.
The 62 points tied the second fewest Louisville has scored since Pat Kelsey became the team’s coach at the beginning of last season. Tennessee won 77-55 at Louisville on Nov. 9, 2024.
–Field Level Media
