ESPN.com · Nov 27, 2025
Tennessee blows 12-point lead, drops first loss to Kansas
LAS VEGAS -- Melvin Council Jr. and Elmarko Jackson each scored 17 points and Kansas defeated previously unbeaten No. 17 Tennessee 81-76 in the third-place game of the Players Era Championship on Wednesday night.
Tre White added 14 points for Kansas (6-2) before fouling out and Flory Bidunga scored 13.
Nate Ament led Tennessee (7-1) with 20 points. Jaylen Carey and Ja'Kobi Gillespie each scored 11 points and J.P. Estrella added 10.
Kansas, which trailed most of the second half, took the lead with 5:36 remaining on Paul Mbiya's layup and extended the lead to four points at 68-64 on a driving layup by Jackson with 5:08 left.
