Tennessee basketball defeats South Carolina State

No. 20 Tennessee (10-3) defeated South Carolina State (1-14), 105-54, Tuesday at Food City Center.

The Vols led the first-ever meeting between the two teams, 41-25, at halftime.

Ja'Kobi Gillespie totaled 21 points, eight assists, three rebounds s and one steal. He converted 7-of-12 field goal attempts, 3-of-8 three-point attempts and 4-of-4 free throw attempts. Gillespie was one of five Tennessee players to score 10-plus points against the Bulldogs. He also did not commit a turnover.

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Nate Ament recorded 16 points and seven rebounds, while Amari Evans had 14 points, five rebounds, two assists and one block.

Jaylen Carey finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and two assists and one one of two Vols to post a double-double against South Carolina State. J.P. Estrella totaled 12 points, 10 rebounds and three assists.

Felix Okpara finished with nine points, five rebounds, four blocks (matching a career-high) and two steals for Tennessee, which outrebounded the Bulldogs, 52-16.

South Carolina State's Jaylen Johnson had 25 points to lead all scorers.

Tennessee next plays Saturday when it opens SEC play, traveling to Arkansas. Tipoff for the Vols and Razorbacks is set for 3 p.m. at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Ja'Kobi Gillespie leads Vols past South Carolina State