Overview
- Tennessee routed Rutgers 85-60 in Las Vegas to open play at the expanded Players Era tournament.
- Gillespie hit six 3-pointers on his way to a career-best 32 points, while freshman Nate Ament added 20.
- The Volunteers shot 50.8% from the field and 50% from deep, outrebounded Rutgers 43-28, and forced 13 turnovers.
- J.P. Estrella returned to the box score with 10 points after a recent bone-bruise diagnosis, and Felix Okpara also scored 10 with seven rebounds.
- Tennessee faces No. 2 Houston on Tuesday, while Rutgers meets Notre Dame in its next tournament game.