Michael Allen 
J.P. Estrella celebrates while going back on defense after draining a three pointer in Tennessee's 99-66 win over North Florida
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Tennessee crushed North Florida 99–66 in the “Chaz Lanier Classic,” led by J.P. Estrella’s 23-point double-double and strong showings from Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Nate Ament.
The Tennessee Volunteers kept their early-season momentum rolling Tuesday night with a commanding 99–66 victory over North Florida in what Tennessee play-by-play announcer Mike Keith dubbed the “Chaz Lanier Classic.”
The Ospreys came out swinging, keeping pace with the Vols for much of the first half. With 6:13 remaining before the break, Tennessee clung to a narrow 32–30 advantage. That’s when the floodgates opened. The Vols ripped off a 15–0 run to close the half, seizing full control and heading into the locker room with a 47–30 lead.
Sophomore forward J.P. Estrella was the spark that ignited the surge. He poured in 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting in the opening half and didn’t slow down after the break. Estrella finished with a career-high 23 points and 10 rebounds in just 20 minutes of action — an efficient, breakout performance that had Vol Nation buzzing.
The Vols never looked back in the second half, keeping the lead comfortably above 16 points the rest of the way. Ja’Kobi Gillespie took over in the final 20 minutes, drilling three triples and scoring 13 of his 21 total points after halftime, while also dishing out seven assists. Freshman Nate Ament added 19 points and nine boards, continuing his strong start to the season.
Tennessee’s defense once again proved stifling, holding North Florida to just 38% shooting from the floor and 29% from three-point range. The Vols’ physicality inside led to a massive 52–24 rebounding advantage, while their offensive efficiency — 52.1% from the field — came largely from high-percentage looks in the paint, including multiple emphatic alley-oop dunks.
If there was one blemish, it came in the turnover column. Tennessee committed 14 turnovers, an improvement from earlier games but still a figure that head coach Rick Barnes will look to trim as the competition stiffens.
With the win, the Vols move to 3–0 on the season and continue to show why they’re among the most balanced teams in the SEC. Tennessee now turns its focus to its next matchup — a Monday night showdown against Rice at the Food City Center. Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
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