Basketball in Knoxville just feels different. Sometimes it’s a blowout, and sometimes it’s a chaotic, heart-pounding mess that leaves 17,000 people at Food City Center wondering how they got home.
If you’re looking for the score of tn basketball game, the scoreboard finally stopped at 87-82. That was Tuesday night, January 13, 2026. The #24 Tennessee Volunteers took down Texas A&M, but "took down" feels too polite. It was a double-overtime fistfight.
The Wild Score of TN Basketball Game Against Texas A&M
Honestly, for about thirty minutes of game time, it looked like the Vols were toast. Texas A&M came out firing. They hit an 11-0 run in the first half that sucked the air out of the building. By the time the halftime whistle blew, Tennessee was down 34-30, and the vibe was... let's just say "tense."
The second half was a different story. Sorta.
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Tennessee isn't exactly a team that does things the easy way this season. They shot a pretty rough 37% from the field. Most nights, that gets you a loss. But Rick Barnes has these kids crashing the glass like their lives depend on it. They out-rebounded the Aggies 60 to 35. That is a massive gap. Basically, the Vols missed a lot, but they just kept grabbing their own misses until something went in.
Breaking Down the Overtime Chaos
Regulation ended at 71-71. The first overtime was a defensive slog—both teams were gassed. They only combined for four points each in those five minutes. It was 75-75 going into the second OT.
That’s when Nate Ament took over. The freshman is a star. Period.
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He finished with a career-high 23 points, and ten of those came during the two overtime periods. While everyone else was struggling to find their legs, Ament looked like he was playing in a park on a Saturday afternoon. He was calm. He was clinical. Beside him, Ja’Kobi Gillespie was a workhorse, logging 48 minutes on the court. He put up 18 points, even though his shooting touch was a bit off (5-of-19).
The Aggies didn't go quietly. Pop Isaacs hit a big three early in the second overtime to give A&M a 79-77 lead. But Tennessee’s depth—and their sheer size on the offensive boards—was too much. Jaylen Carey’s putback with about a minute left gave the Vols the cushion they needed.
Why This Win Matters for the Vols
This wasn't just another January win. Before this, Tennessee had a 2-2 conference record and was coming off a bruising loss to Florida. They needed this. Badly.
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The SEC is a meat grinder this year. Vanderbilt is somehow sitting at the top of the standings at 16-0, and every night feels like a trap game. By pulling out this 87-82 victory, Tennessee stayed in the hunt. They moved to 12-5 overall.
Stat Leaders from the Tuesday Night Thriller:
- Nate Ament: 23 points, 10 rebounds.
- Ja’Kobi Gillespie: 18 points, 48 minutes played.
- Bishop Boswell: 13 points, clutch free throws late.
- Jacari Lane (Texas A&M): 20 points, 9 assists.
What’s Next on the Schedule?
If you're a Tennessee fan, don't get too comfortable. The schedule doesn't get any easier. Next up is a massive home game against Kentucky on Saturday, January 17.
The Lady Vols are also on a tear. They recently crushed Arkansas 85-50, with Mia Pauldo and Zee Spearman looking like a duo that nobody wants to see in the NCAA tournament.
If you want to keep up with the score of tn basketball game and stay ahead of the curve, here are the immediate next steps:
- Watch the Kentucky Matchup: Saturday at 12 PM ET. If Ament plays like he did in double OT, the Vols have a real shot at climbing back into the Top 15.
- Monitor the Injury Report: Tennessee won despite some shooting struggles, but they need their rotation healthy as they head into a road trip against Alabama on January 24.
- Follow the Rebound Margin: This team lives and dies on second-chance points. If they don't win the glass by at least +10, they struggle to close games.