Tennessee freshman wing Nate Ament did something during Tuesday night’s game against Ole Miss that had Vol fans reminded of one of Dalton Knecht’s best games in a UT uniform during his lone season in Knoxville.
Ament has been on a scoring tear in recent weeks, but only put up two points on 1-of-5 shooting in the first half of the game against the Rebels. Ament stayed patient, though, and began to unlock his game in the second half. It was almost like he had the answers to the test. Ament scored 26 points in the final 20 minutes of the game, helping Tennessee end with a blowout win over the Rebels after only leading by one point at halftime. He scored his points on 8-of-10 shooting from the floor, 2-of-2 from three-point range, and 8-of-10 from the free throw line.
Ament’s 26 points in the second half were the most in a single half since VFL Dalton Knecht dropped 27 in the final 20 minutes at home against Auburn in 2024. Knecht finished that game with 39 points on 12-of-21 shooting and 5-of-8 from three-point range. Knecht’s monster half helped Tennessee pick up a 92-84 win over Bruce Pearl’s squad.
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“I think what he has done — I’ve said all year, I really don’t care what anybody else said. I wouldn’t trade Nate for anybody in the country because I think he’s been good all year,” head coach Rick Barnes said of Ament after the game. “I knew it would have taken some time to figure out the physicality part of it, like any freshman, to add to his game. But for him to do what he did, I mean, he earns it. If you were here yesterday at practice, he was the last guy wanting to leave.”
Since Tennessee’s 1-1 start to SEC play with a loss to Arkansas and a win over Texas, Ament has been averaging 22.1 points per game. In his last four games, he’s been averaging 24.5 points per game. Ament has been more patient, more assertive with his shot selection, and has proven to be an absolute weapon on the court with his length and ability.
Here’s a look at Ament’s last seven games in SEC play:
- at Florida: 17 points, 45.5 FG%
- vs Texas A&M: 23 points, 43.8 FG%
- vs Kentucky: 17 points, 57.1 FG%
- at Alabama: 29 points, 50.0 FG%
- at Georgia: 19 points, 38.9 FG%
- vs Auburn: 22 points, 25.0 FG%
- vs Ole Miss: 28 points, 60 FG%
