No. 20 Tennessee moved to 4-0 on the season with a 91-66 win over Rice on Monday night in Knoxville. The Owls are coached by former Tennessee assistant coach Rob Lanier.
Tennessee center Felix Okpara put up a career-high 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting with a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. He was helped out by freshman wing Nate Ament with a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double, a 17-point showing from Ja’Kobi Gillespie, and 11 points off the bench from Ethan Burg.
The big story of the night, though, was the game-ending injury that star forward JP Estrella suffered in the first half of play. Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes didn’t have much of an update on Estrella’s status after the game, but did confirm that it is a left leg injury. Estrella, who returned this season after missing the entire 2024-2025 season with injury, had been one of the best bright spots on the Vols’ roster so far.
Barnes and Lanier both met with the media after the game to share their thoughts on the contest. Tennessee also had forwards Jaylen Carey and Felix Okpara speak with the media to close out the night.
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Check out all three interviews below:
Tennessee HC Rick Barnes
Rice HC Rob Lanier
Tennessee F Jaylen Carey and F Felix Okpara
