Chandler, Vescovi lead No. 18 Tennessee past UT-Martin 90-62
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Kennedy Chandler and Santiago Vescovi each scored 20 points, leading No. 18 Tennessee to a 90-62 season-opening win over Tennessee-Martin on Tuesday night.
Chandler shot 7 for 10 from the field and had four assists. Vescovi, a holdover from last season, tied a career high with six 3-pointers.
''There's no doubt (Chandler) is electric,'' Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said. ''He's still learning how to run a system.
''He still needs to get in elite shape mentally. We still want to quicken the pace with him.''
Chandler was regarded as the top high school point guard in the country last year.
''I had the mindset that I'd come out and play hard,'' said Chandler. ''It was the first game of the season but I wasn't nervous.''
Justin Powell, a new arrival, added 13 points for the Volunteers. Olivier Nkamhoua had 11 points and 14 rebounds.
KK Curry scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Skyhawks. KJ Simon added 14 points and David Didenko 11.
The Vols connected on 17 of 40 3-point attempts, This team will spend a lot of time on the perimeter.
Besides Vescovi, Chandler hit all four of his attempts from long distance.
''Every time we came down the court, we were ready to shoot,'' Chandler said. ''In the second half, we were finally able to turn the switch on.''
Powell made 3 of 5 3-point tries.
''There's a fine line (between a good and bad 3-pointer),'' Barnes said. ''We have to have an offensive rebounding mentality. There will be times when they aren't going to fall.
''At some point in time, somebody will really guard us (beyond the arc). We have to be ready for that. We have to get a feel and make the defense work a little bit.''
Tennessee led by eight, 43-35, at halftime, and then pulled away.
''We practice every day at a high tempo,'' said Barnes. ''(UT-Martin's) plan was to spread us out. We are going to play against (other) teams that will try and slow us down. We'll have to be prepared for that.''
Tennessee's 10-man rotation had six players who either weren't on the roster last season or played minimal minutes.
ALREADY INJURED
Tennessee super-senior big man John Fulkerson hasn't played in the Vols' exhibition or opener because of a broken left thumb. He is expected to be ready in the Vols' next outing Sunday. Fulkerson missed the end of last season when he was sidelined with a concussion in the Southeastern Conference Tournament.
BIG PICTURE
Tennessee-Martin: The Skyhawks are building toward the Paradise Classic on Nov. 19-21 in Boca Raton, Florida. They will meet host Florida Atlantic in the first game, then follow with Troy and North Dakota.
Tennessee: Everything Tennessee does in its first two regular-season games will be done with one eye looking ahead to the Hall of Fame Classic on Nov. 20-21 in Uncasville, Connecticut. The Vols will play Villanova in the opener, then meet either North Carolina or Purdue the second day.
UP NEXT
Tennessee-Martin: The Skyhawks host Miami-Hamilton on Saturday.
Tennessee: East Tennessee is up next on Tennessee's schedule for a matinee Sunday.
---
More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25
Copyright 2025 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | David Didenko vs. Olivier Nkamhoua (Skyhawks gains possession) | |||
19:34 | +2 | Koby Jeffries makes two point layup | 2-0 | |
19:30 | Kennedy Chandler misses two point layup | |||
19:29 | Kennedy Chandler offensive rebound | |||
19:29 | KK Curry personal foul (Kennedy Chandler draws the foul) | |||
19:25 | Santiago Vescovi misses three point jump shot | |||
19:23 | Olivier Nkamhoua offensive rebound | |||
19:15 | +3 | Santiago Vescovi makes three point jump shot (Kennedy Chandler assists) | 2-3 | |
18:56 | +2 | K.J. Simon makes two point hook shot | 4-3 | |
18:43 | +2 | Uros Plavsic makes two point hook shot | 4-5 | |
18:20 | +2 | KK Curry makes two point layup (Mikel Henderson assists) | 6-5 | |
18:08 | Josiah-Jordan James misses three point jump shot | |||
18:06 | Mikel Henderson defensive rebound | |||
17:55 | K.J. Simon misses three point jump shot | |||
17:53 | Olivier Nkamhoua defensive rebound | |||
17:46 | +2 | Kennedy Chandler makes two point jump shot | 6-7 | |
17:28 | +2 | KK Curry makes two point layup | 8-7 | |
17:17 | Uros Plavsic turnover (lost ball) (K.J. Simon steals) | |||
16:55 | KK Curry misses two point jump shot | |||
16:53 | Santiago Vescovi defensive rebound | |||
16:46 | Santiago Vescovi misses three point jump shot | |||
16:44 | K.J. Simon defensive rebound | |||
16:38 | +2 | K.J. Simon makes two point layup | 10-7 | |
16:26 | +3 | Olivier Nkamhoua makes three point jump shot (Uros Plavsic assists) | 10-10 | |
15:54 | Koby Jeffries misses two point layup | |||
15:52 | Koby Jeffries offensive rebound | |||
15:44 | Mikel Henderson misses three point jump shot | |||
15:42 | Santiago Vescovi defensive rebound | |||
15:42 | K.J. Simon personal foul | |||
15:42 | TV timeout | |||
15:27 | +2 | Josiah-Jordan James makes two point layup | 10-12 | |
15:10 | +3 | David Didenko makes three point jump shot (KK Curry assists) | 13-12 | |
14:51 | Brandon Huntley-Hatfield misses two point jump shot | |||
14:49 | Mikel Henderson defensive rebound | |||
14:36 | +2 | K.J. Simon makes two point jump shot | 15-12 | |
14:14 | Victor Bailey Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
14:12 | Volunteers offensive rebound | |||
14:05 | +3 | Victor Bailey Jr. makes three point jump shot (Zakai Zeigler assists) | 15-15 | |
13:46 | Olivier Nkamhoua shooting foul (KK Curry draws the foul) | |||
13:45 | +1 | KK Curry makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-15 | |
13:45 | KK Curry misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
13:45 | Brandon Huntley-Hatfield defensive rebound | |||
13:15 | Uros Plavsic misses two point hook shot | |||
13:13 | KK Curry defensive rebound | |||
13:02 | Uros Plavsic personal foul (KK Curry draws the foul) | |||
12:57 | +2 | Chris Nix makes two point hook shot | 18-15 | |
12:51 | Chris Nix shooting foul (Zakai Zeigler draws the foul) | |||
12:49 | +1 | Zakai Zeigler makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 18-16 | |
12:49 | Zakai Zeigler misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
12:49 | K.J. Simon defensive rebound | |||
12:36 | +2 | K.J. Simon makes two point jump shot | 20-16 | |
12:28 | Josiah-Jordan James misses three point jump shot | |||
12:26 | Justin Powell offensive rebound | |||
12:17 | +3 | Justin Powell makes three point jump shot (Josiah-Jordan James assists) | 20-19 | |
11:48 | Skyhawks turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
11:47 | TV timeout | |||
11:38 | Zakai Zeigler misses three point jump shot | |||
11:36 | Josiah-Jordan James offensive rebound | |||
11:30 | Justin Powell turnover (lost ball) | |||
11:11 | K.J. Simon misses three point jump shot | |||
11:09 | Jahmai Mashack defensive rebound | |||
10:55 | Victor Bailey Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
10:53 | KK Curry defensive rebound | |||
10:43 | David Didenko turnover (lost ball) (Josiah-Jordan James steals) | |||
10:35 | Victor Bailey Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
10:30 | Josiah-Jordan James offensive rebound | |||
10:08 | Josiah-Jordan James misses two point layup | |||
10:06 | KK Curry defensive rebound | |||
10:06 | Darius Simmons misses three point jump shot | |||
10:04 | Olivier Nkamhoua defensive rebound | |||
10:04 | Jahmai Mashack misses three point jump shot | |||
10:15 | Victor Bailey Jr. offensive rebound | |||
10:04 | Darius Simmons shooting foul (Josiah-Jordan James draws the foul) | |||
10:03 | Josiah-Jordan James misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
10:03 | Josiah-Jordan James misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
10:03 | Jahmai Mashack offensive rebound | |||
9:59 | Olivier Nkamhoua misses three point jump shot | |||
9:57 | KK Curry defensive rebound | |||
9:48 | Koby Jeffries offensive foul | |||
9:48 | Koby Jeffries turnover | |||
9:31 | Kennedy Chandler misses two point layup | |||
9:29 | Koby Jeffries defensive rebound | |||
9:26 | Santiago Vescovi shooting foul (Koby Jeffries draws the foul) | |||
9:26 | Koby Jeffries misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
9:26 | +1 | Koby Jeffries makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-19 | |
9:01 | Santiago Vescovi misses two point layup | |||
8:59 | Brandon Huntley-Hatfield offensive rebound | |||
8:52 | +2 | Brandon Huntley-Hatfield makes two point layup | 21-21 | |
8:46 | Brandon Huntley-Hatfield blocks Koby Jeffries's two point layup | |||
8:44 | Jahmai Mashack defensive rebound | |||
8:42 | +3 | Kennedy Chandler makes three point jump shot (Jahmai Mashack assists) | 21-24 | |
8:42 | Skyhawks 30 second timeout | |||
8:21 | +2 | KK Curry makes two point layup | 23-24 | |
8:03 | K.J. Simon blocks Olivier Nkamhoua's two point layup | |||
8:01 | Skyhawks defensive rebound | |||
7:56 | Darius Simmons turnover (lost ball) (Brandon Huntley-Hatfield steals) | |||
7:28 | +2 | Justin Powell makes two point jump shot (Santiago Vescovi assists) | 23-26 | |
7:09 | K.J. Simon turnover (bad pass) (Brandon Huntley-Hatfield steals) | |||
7:00 | Kennedy Chandler turnover (lost ball) (K.J. Simon steals) | |||
6:51 | +3 | David Didenko makes three point jump shot (Darius Simmons assists) | 26-26 | |
6:34 | Olivier Nkamhoua misses two point jump shot | |||
6:33 | David Didenko defensive rebound | |||
6:33 | Brandon Huntley-Hatfield personal foul (David Didenko draws the foul) | |||
6:33 | TV timeout | |||
6:24 | Mikel Henderson turnover (lost ball) (Brandon Huntley-Hatfield steals) | |||
6:17 | +2 | Brandon Huntley-Hatfield makes two point dunk | 26-28 | |
6:03 | KK Curry turnover (lost ball) (Olivier Nkamhoua steals) | |||
5:54 | Justin Powell misses three point jump shot | |||
5:52 | Brandon Huntley-Hatfield offensive rebound | |||
5:36 | Mikel Henderson personal foul (Santiago Vescovi draws the foul) | |||
5:36 | Santiago Vescovi misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
5:36 | +1 | Santiago Vescovi makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 26-29 | |
5:23 | Olivier Nkamhoua blocks KK Curry's two point dunk | |||
5:21 | Santiago Vescovi defensive rebound | |||
5:06 | Zakai Zeigler misses two point layup | |||
5:04 | KK Curry defensive rebound | |||
4:43 | Darius Simmons misses three point jump shot | |||
4:41 | Brandon Huntley-Hatfield defensive rebound | |||
4:33 | Santiago Vescovi misses two point layup | |||
4:31 | Olivier Nkamhoua offensive rebound | |||
4:28 | Olivier Nkamhoua misses two point layup | |||
4:26 | K.J. Simon defensive rebound | |||
4:22 | +2 | K.J. Simon makes two point jump shot (Mikel Henderson assists) | 28-29 | |
4:05 | David Didenko personal foul (Santiago Vescovi draws the foul) | |||
4:05 | +1 | Santiago Vescovi makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 28-30 | |
4:05 | Santiago Vescovi misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
4:05 | Santiago Vescovi offensive rebound | |||
3:59 | +3 | Justin Powell makes three point jump shot | 28-33 | |
3:34 | Uros Plavsic blocks Darius Simmons's two point layup | |||
3:34 | Volunteers defensive rebound | |||
3:34 | TV timeout | |||
3:19 | +3 | Victor Bailey Jr. makes three point jump shot (Kennedy Chandler assists) | 28-36 | |
2:59 | +2 | Chris Nix makes two point layup (Mikel Henderson assists) | 30-36 | |
2:52 | Mikel Henderson shooting foul (Kennedy Chandler draws the foul) | |||
2:52 | +1 | Kennedy Chandler makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 30-37 | |
2:52 | +1 | Kennedy Chandler makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 30-38 | |
2:22 | K.J. Simon misses three point jump shot | |||
2:20 | Josiah-Jordan James defensive rebound | |||
2:14 | +2 | Kennedy Chandler makes two point layup | 30-40 | |
2:03 | +2 | Koby Jeffries makes two point dunk | 32-40 | |
2:03 | +2 | Koby Jeffries makes two point dunk | 32-40 | |
1:43 | Victor Bailey Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
1:41 | K.J. Simon defensive rebound | |||
1:41 | Uros Plavsic personal foul | |||
1:33 | David Didenko turnover (lost ball) (Josiah-Jordan James steals) | |||
1:24 | Josiah-Jordan James turnover (lost ball) (K.J. Simon steals) | |||
1:17 | K.J. Simon turnover (lost ball) (Josiah-Jordan James steals) | |||
1:07 | K.J. Simon blocks Zakai Zeigler's three point jump shot | |||
1:05 | Zakai Zeigler offensive rebound | |||
1:02 | +3 | Kennedy Chandler makes three point jump shot (Zakai Zeigler assists) | 32-43 | |
0:47 | +3 | K.J. Simon makes three point jump shot (David Didenko assists) | 35-43 | |
0:34 | Josiah-Jordan James misses three point jump shot | |||
0:34 | Josiah-Jordan James misses three point jump shot | |||
0:32 | K.J. Simon defensive rebound | |||
0:28 | Uros Plavsic personal foul | |||
0:06 | Josiah-Jordan James blocks KK Curry's two point layup | |||
0:04 | Olivier Nkamhoua defensive rebound |