Tennessee basketball opened the 2025 Players Era Championship in Las Vegas with a resounding win over Rutgers. The Vols entered the game with a perfect 5-0 record, while the Scarlet Knights came in at 4-1, but it was clear from the tip that Tennessee was the better team.
The Vols ran away with this game, winning by 25 points, beating Rutgers 85-60. Freshman forward Nate Ament and transfer guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie dominantly led the Vols, combining for 52 points, nearly outscoring the entire Rutgers squad by themselves.
Tennessee shot lights out, finishing the game shooting 51% from the field and 50% from three-point range.