Tennessee Blows Past Ole Miss as Nate Ament Shines, Chris Beard Ejected in Fiery Second Half
It was a tale of two halves in Knoxville on Tuesday night. What started as a gritty, low-scoring battle turned into a second-half showcase for Tennessee-and especially for their rising star, Nate Ament.
The freshman forward exploded after the break, pouring in 26 of his 28 points in the final 20 minutes to lead No. 25 Tennessee to an 84-66 win over Ole Miss.
The Vols trailed briefly and only led by one at halftime, 26-25, in a game that felt like it was being played in a phone booth. But the second half?
That was all Tennessee. The Vols dropped 58 points after the break, turning a tight contest into a runaway.
Ament was the engine of that surge. He shot 9-of-15 from the floor and went 8-of-10 at the free-throw line, adding six rebounds and four assists to a stat line that screams "future pro." His offensive versatility and poise are already drawing high praise, and Tuesday night was another step in what’s becoming a rapid ascent.
“He basically has an unblockable shot,” Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard said postgame. “Coach Barnes has taught that shot to a lot of guys over the years-Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge. That’s a problem.”
Ament wasn’t alone in making life miserable for the Rebels. Senior point guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie added 20 points, knocking down 5-of-10 from deep and orchestrating the offense with veteran calm.
Redshirt sophomore forward J.P. Estrella chipped in 12 points and nine boards, while sophomore guard Bishop Boswell filled up the box score with 10 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
Tennessee’s second-half dominance was fueled by a mix of pace, shot-making, and defensive pressure that Ole Miss simply couldn’t match. And that frustration boiled over in a big way for the Rebels-specifically for their head coach.
Chris Beard was ejected midway through the second half after receiving two technical fouls, the result of a heated disagreement with officials over a series of calls. Beard sprinted onto the court in protest, and that was that-he was tossed.
After the game, Beard didn’t shy away from explaining the moment.
“At some point as a coach, you have to fight for your players,” he said. “It’s never personal.
These are the best officials in college basketball. But tonight, the free-throw differential and the foul calls were frustrating from a coaching and playing standpoint.”
Beard acknowledged that Tennessee outplayed his team, especially in the second half, but pointed to what he saw as an imbalance in officiating as a tipping point. He referenced legendary coach Rick Barnes-now at the helm for Tennessee-and how Barnes himself had to fight for his programs in earlier stops.
“This wasn’t about the final score,” Beard said. “Tennessee played a great game, especially in the second half.
Their best two players showed up in a big-time way. We didn’t get the contributions we needed from our guys.”
Defensively, Ole Miss held their own in the first half, forcing tough shots and making Tennessee earn every bucket. Beard said he thought his team actually played one of their better defensive halves of the season before the wheels came off in the second.
“We left some offense on the table in the first half,” he said. “We probably should’ve had the lead at halftime. But the effort was there.”
That effort, however, wasn’t enough to contain Ament. The freshman’s second-half outburst was the difference-maker, and Beard didn’t hesitate to give credit where it was due.
“He’s not just an all-freshman guy. He’s one of the best players in our league,” Beard said.
“He’s gotten better every month, and that’s not easy in a league this physical. He’s dynamic.”
For Ole Miss, the loss stings-not just because of the score, but because of the emotional toll of a game that got away. For Tennessee, it’s another reminder that when their young core is clicking, they’re a dangerous team with serious upside.
And if Nate Ament keeps trending the way he is? The rest of the SEC better take notice.