Tag: Jordan Gainey

Jordan Gainey enters senior season at Tennessee

2024-25 Tennessee Vols basketball season preview: Jordan Gainey

No. 12 Tennessee will open its 2024-25 regular season Nov. 4 against Gardner-Webb. The Vols will defend their SEC regular-season championship this season.

During the preseason, Vols Wire previews student-athletes on Tennessee’s 2024-25 men’s basketball roster. This installment will feature senior guard Jordan Gainey.

Gainey begins his second season with the Vols after playing at USC Upstate for two years. He was a member of the 2023-24 first-year SEC Academic Honor Roll.

On the court, Gainey appeared in all 36 games for Tennessee, averaging 6.8 points, 1.7 rebounds 1.2 assists and 0.9 steals per contest. He also led the Vols in free throw percentage (.870) and converted 43 three-pointers last season.

Gainey is the son of Tennessee assistant head coach Justin Gainey. He was also a First-Team All-Big South performer in 2023 and achieved second-team honors as a sophomore in 2022. Gainey was the Big South Freshman of the Year in 2021.

No. 6 Tennessee defeats LSU by 20 points

No. 6 Tennessee defeats LSU by 20 points.

No. 6 Tennessee (17-5, 7-2 SEC) defeated LSU (12-10, 4-5 SEC), 88-68, Wednesday at Food City Center.

The Vols led, 50-27, at halftime.

Tennessee opened the contest leading 13-0 and never trailed in the game. The Vols led by as many as 26 points, before LSU pulled to within, 72-64, with 4 minutes, 30 seconds remaining.

Tennessee ended the game outscoring LSU, 16-4.

Dalton Knecht recorded 27 points to lead all scorers. He also recorded seven rebounds and six assists for the Vols.

Jordan Gainey scored 18 points for Tennessee.

Junior point guard Zakai Zeigler recorded 17 rebounds, nine assists, four rebounds and four steals for Tennessee, while Jonas Aidoo finished with 10 points, five rebounds and three blocks.

Will Baker scored 16 points to lead LSU. He also recorded eight rebounds.

Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Santiago Vescovi sets record for starts in Vols’ win at Vanderbilt

Santiago Vescovi sets record for starts in Vols’ win at Vanderbilt.

No. 5 Tennessee (15-4, 5-1 SEC) defeated Vanderbilt (5-14, 0-6 SEC), 75-62, Saturday at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Commodores led, 35-30, at halftime.

Vols’ guard Santiago Vescovi made his 129th career start, a program record. The previous record was held by both Allan Houston and Chris Lofton.

Vesovi totaled 12 points, five rebounds and two assists against Vanderbilt. He was one of four Tennessee players to score 10-plus points in the contest.

Dalton Knecht led all scorers with 32 points. He converted 13-of-21 field goal attempts and 3-of-7 three-point attempts. Knecht made 3-of-7 free throw attempts.

Zakai Zeigler and Jordan Gainey recorded 10 points each. Zeigler also finished with six assists and four rebounds. Jonas Aidoo totaled nine rebounds and 10 rebounds for the Vols.

Tyrin Lawrence led the Commodores with 21 points. He also posted eight rebounds.

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Vols defeat Alabama for third consecutive victory

Tennessee defeats Alabama for third consecutive victory.

No. 7 Tennessee (14-4, 4-1 SEC) defeated Alabama (12-6, 4-1 SEC), 91-71, Saturday at Food City Center.

The Vols led, 50-37, at halftime.

It was the third consecutive victory for Tennessee, which forced 22 Crimson Tide turnovers.

Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht totaled a game-high 25 points. Jonas Aidoo recorded 19 points, five rebounds and four blocks for the Vols, who had six turnovers in the contest.

Jordan Gainey scored 15 points, all in the first-half. He also recorded five rebounds and three steals. Santiago Vescovi had 10 points, five assists and two steals for Tennessee.

Zakai Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack finished with eight points each. Zeigler also had six assists and four steals, while Mashack totaled four rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Mark Sears led the Crimson Tide with 22 points.

Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Vols defeat Tarleton State in final 2023 home game

Tennessee basketball defeats Tarleton State, 65-46.

No. 7 Tennessee (9-3) defeated Tarleton State (8-4), 65-46, Thursday at Food City Center.

The Vols led, 39-25, at halftime.

Zakai Zeigler totaled 13 points and five assists. He was one of three Tennessee players to score 10-plus points against Tarleton State.

Santiago Vescovi recorded 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists, while Josiah-Jordan James totaled 10 points, 10 rebounds and one block for the Vols.

Jordan Gainey scored nine points and Tobe Awaka totaled five points and five blocks in Tennessee’s final 2023 home game of the regular-season.

Devin Barnes led Tarleton State with 12 points. He also recorded four rebounds.

Tennessee will next play on Jan. 2, 2024 versus Norfolk State at Food City Center.

Jonas Aidoo leads Vols in win against Georgia Southern

Jonas Aidoo leads the Vols in win against Georgia Southern.

No 10 Tennessee (7-3) defeated Georgia Southern (0-10), 74-56, Tuesday at Food City Center.

The Vols led, 49-21, at halftime.

Forward Jonas Aidoo, recorded a double-double as he scored 29 points and totaled 11 rebounds. He also recorded two blocks and two steals. Aidoo was the only Tennessee player to score 10-plus points against the Eagles.

Dalton Knecht recorded seven points and six rebounds for the Vols.

Zakai Zeigler finished with six points, seven assists, four steals and three rebounds.

Derrick Harris Jr. scored 13 points to lead Georgia Southern.

Tennessee next plays Saturday against North Carolina State. Tipoff between the Vols and Wolfpack is scheduled for 10 p.m. EST at AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas (ESPN2).

Jonas Aidoo leads Vols in victory against George Mason

Tennessee basketball defeats George Mason, 87-66.

No. 13 Tennessee (5-3) defeated George Mason (7-2), 87-66, Tuesday at Food City Center.

The Vols had four players score 10-plus points.

Jonas Aidoo totaled 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while Josiah-Jordan James recorded 15 points, six rebounds and six assists for Tennessee.

Tobe Awaka recorded 11 points and seven rebounds, while Dalton Knecht finished the contest with 10 points, three rebounds and two assists for the Vols.

Jordan Gainey, J.P. Estrella and Santiago Vescovi scored seven points each.

Zakai Zeigler, making his first start of the 2023-24 season, finished with six points, six assists and one rebound.

Darius Maddox recorded 15 points and five rebounds for the Patriots.

Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Dalton Knecht ties Dean E. Smith Center scoring record

Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht ties the Dean E. Smith Center scoring record.

No. 16 North Carolina (6-1) defeated No. 11 Tennessee (4-3), 100-92, in the ACC/SEC Challenge at Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

The Tar Heels led, 61-39, at halftime and had a 24-point lead in the second half.

Dalton Knecht scored 22 of his game-high 37 points in the second half. His 37 points represent a career high. Knect, who recorded six rebounds and three assists, also tied a single-game record for an opposing player at the Dean E. Smith Center, set by La Salle’s Lionel Simmons in 1988.

Knecht left late in the game after suffering an ankle injury.

Josiah-Jordan James totaled 20 points and four rebounds for the Vols, while Jonas Aidoo recorded 13 points. Jordan Gainey had 11 points and Zakai Zeigler finished with nine points and seven assists for Tennessee.

RJ Davis had 27 points to lead the Tar Heels.

Maui Invitational: Vols fall to Purdue in semifinals

2023 Maui Invitational: Vols fall to Purdue in semifinals

No. 2 Purdue (4-0) defeated No. 8 Tennessee (3-1), 71-67, Tuesday in the semifinals of the Maui Invitational at SimpliFi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The Vols led, 31-30, at halftime.

Tennessee led by nine points in the first half. The Boilermakers outscored Tennessee, 10-6, in the final minutes during the first half.

Dalton Knecht totaled 16 points, including 13 in the first half, and five rebounds.

Jordan Gainey scored 15 points, Jahmai Mashack recored nine and Santiago Vescovi finished with eight for Tennessee.

Tennessee will next play on Wednesday in the third-place game at 2:30 p.m. EST against either Kansas or Marquette.

PHOTOS: A look at Rick Barnes through the years

No. 8 Tennessee basketball defeats Wofford

Vols remain undefeated with victory over Wofford.

No. 8 Tennessee (3-0) defeated Wofford (2-1), 82-61, Tuesday at Food City Center.

The Vols led, 36-31, at halftime.

Dalton Knecht scored 14 of his team-high 18 points in the second-half. He was one of three Tennessee players to score 10-plus points against the Terriers.

Jordan Gainey scored 16 points, including 11 in the first half. Santago Vescovi totaled 11 points.

Tobe Awaka totaled nine points and six rebounds. Josiah-Jordan James, who scored his 1,000th career point in the contest, recorded eight points and seven rebounds. Jahmai Mashack added seven points, while Jonas Aidoo posted seven points, seven rebounds, two blocks and one steal.

Wofford’s Corey Tripp led all scorers as he finished 19 points.