No. 18 Tennessee runs past USC Upstate

KNOXVILLE – Olivier Nkamhoua scored 21 points to lead No. 18 Tennessee to a 96-52 victory over USC Upstate Tuesday night.

The Volunteers (8-2) scored the first 13 points of the game and weren’t challenged the rest of the way. Nkamhoua, a 6-foot-8 junior who also had eight rebounds, is working to establish himself as an inside threat within Tennessee’s deep lineup.

Kennedy Chandler had 15 points and 10 assists to help the Vols, while John Fulkerson contributed 12 points. Tennessee shot 56% from the field and 44% from the 3-point line.

USC Upstate (2-8), whicih shot 36.4% from the floor, was led by Nick Alves with 15 points.

Tennessee’s scouting report for USC Upstate was a little easier than most. That’s because first-year Vols assistant coach Justin Gainey’s son Jordan is a freshman starter who averages about 10 points a game for the Spartans. He managed just two points against the Vols.

The Vols’ season now gets “real,” with Memphis on Saturday, which is more than an in-state rivalry. Tennessee must prove its miserable shooting night in the loss to Texas Tech last week (27% from the field, 15% from 3) in New York’s Madison Square Garden was a fluke. Then, Tennessee will have its final pre-Southeastern Conference tuneup on Dec. 22 against No. 8 Arizona at home, followed by its SEC opener on Dec. 29 at No. 6 Alabama.