Tennessee Volunteers Basketball Defeats Montana

Vols Win Season Opener

The Tennessee Volunteers basketball team defeated the Montana Grizzlies 75-50 in their season opener on Monday night at Thompson-Boling Arena. The Vols were led by sophomore guard Santiago Vescovi, who scored 19 points and dished out six assists.

The Vols jumped out to a 9-0 lead and never looked back. They led by 15 points at halftime and extended their lead to as many as 25 points in the second half.

Montana was led by junior forward Josh Bannan, who scored 15 points. However, the Grizzlies shot just 36.2% from the field and 26.3% from three-point range.

The Vols were without senior forward Olivier Nkamhoua, who is out indefinitely with a knee injury. However, Vescovi and junior forward John Fulkerson picked up the slack, combining for 34 points and 18 rebounds.

Vescovi Leads the Way

Vescovi was the catalyst for the Vols' offense on Monday night. The sophomore guard was 7-of-14 from the field and 3-of-7 from three-point range. He also dished out six assists and had just one turnover.

Vescovi is one of the most experienced players on the Vols' roster. He started 31 games last season and averaged 9.8 points and 4.0 assists per game.

With Nkamhoua out, Vescovi is expected to play a bigger role in the Vols' offense this season. He showed on Monday night that he is capable of leading the way.

Fulkerson Provides Inside Presence

Fulkerson was another key contributor for the Vols on Monday night. The junior forward scored 15 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.

Fulkerson is a physical presence inside the paint. He is a good rebounder and can score with his back to the basket.

With Nkamhoua out, Fulkerson is expected to be the Vols' primary post player this season. He showed on Monday night that he is up to the task.

Vols Look Ahead

The Vols will be back in action on Friday night when they host the ETSU Buccaneers. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7:00 pm ET.

The Vols are a heavy favorite against the Buccaneers. However, they will need to play well to avoid an upset.