Highlights/Postgame/Stats/Story: Complete Performance Leads #18 Vols Past USC Upstate, 96-52

KNOXVILLE – Tennessee’s most complete performance of the season was on display Tuesday night at Thompson-Boling Arena, as the Volunteers took down USC Upstate, 96-52.

Kennedy Chandler notched his first career double-double, scoring 15 points and adding 10 assists. He became the first Volunteer this season to log 10+ assists in a game. The team compiled 29 assists, the most in a game since Jan. 4, 2014, when the Vols had 30 against Tusculum.

Vols G Kennedy Chandler / Credit: UT Athletics

Olivier Nkamhoua led the 18th-ranked Volunteers with 21 points on 9-of-10 (.900) shooting. The junior also led the Big Orange in rebounds with eight. Nkamhoua now owns a pair of games shooting better than 90 percent this season, as he fired an 8-of-8 game against Tennessee Tech on Nov. 26. John Fulkerson reached double-figures in scoring for the fifth time this season, notching 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting Tuesday.

The defensive output continued to impress, as Tennessee (8-2) nabbed 15 steals–a Rick Barnes-era high. The Vols recorded double-digit steals for the sixth game this season. Tennessee has been especially stout at home, averaging 12.3 steals per game in Thompson-Boling Arena. UT took care of the ball on offense too, only conceding 10 turnovers.

USC Upstate (2-8) was led on offense by Nick Alves. He topped the Spartan scorers with 15 points on 6-of-10 (.600) shooting.

The Volunteer offense soared in the first half, winning the period 51-24. Tennessee scored its most points in any half this season with the 51, and its 27-point lead was the largest at the break all year. Nkamhoua spearheaded the first half offense, sinking 6-of-7 (.857) shots from the floor. Tennessee shot 21-of-39 (.538) as a team, and 8-of-16 (.500) on 3-pointers. It was efficient play all around, as UT logged 15 first-half assists–four from both Chandler and Santiago Vescovi–and out-rebounded USC Upstate, 24-12.

Tennessee improved on an impressive offensive first half after the break, shooting 17-of-29 (.586) from the floor in the second. 11 Vols found their way on the score sheet and 15 saw the court as UT bested USC Upstate, 45-28 in the half. Kent Gilbert scored his first career points, draining a deep 3-pointer with 2:04 left in the game to cap an offensive onslaught from the Big Orange.

Next up, the Volunteers head to the midstate for a battle with Memphis at Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville. Tipoff is scheduled for noon ET / 11 a.m. CT on ESPN2.

HOT OUT OF THE GATES: Tennessee’s 51 points in Tuesday’s first half were its most in any half so far this season. The Vols shot 21-for-39 (.538) from the field in the opening period, including 8-for-16 (.500) from 3-point range. Tennessee recorded an assist on 15 of its 21 made field goals in the half.

MAKING A NAME:Jahmai Mashack, Quentin Diboundje and Kent Gilbert logged career-highs in minutes during Tuesday’s win. Mashack scored three points and recorded two steals in 14 minutes, while Diboundje scored four points, dished out three assists and had a pair of steals in 11 minutes. Gilbert scored his first career points on a deep 3-pointer in three minutes of action.

CHANDLER LOGS DOUBLE-DOUBLE: With 15 points and 10 assists, Kennedy Chandler recorded his first career double-double—while also becoming the first Vol to register a double-double by way of points and assists since Lamonte Turner did so on Nov. 25, 2019.

-UT Athletics