Tennessee celebrated its opening of the 2021-22 basketball season by shattering a single-game record.
The No. 18 Volunteers made 17 shots from beyond the 3-point arc en route to defeating UT Martin, 90-62, Tuesday at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Following a slow offensive start, Tennessee pulled away from the Skyhawks after halftime of the season opener for both schools.
The Vols (1-0) trailed UT Martin, a team with no returning players on this season’s roster, several times out of the gate, but Tennessee manufactured enough offense to open a 43-35 advantage by halftime.
Tennessee had four players post double figures in the scoring column against the Skyhawks (0-1).
Guards Santiago Vescovi and Kennedy Chandler each scored 20 points, while Justin Powell, a transfer from Auburn, scored 13 points in his debut for the Vols as he made three 3-pointers.
Olivier Nkamhoua scored 11 points and finished with a career-high 14 rebounds.
Chandler was a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arc in his first game for UT.
Defensively, the Vols combined to block seven shots. Tennessee also forced the Skyhawks into 20 turnovers.
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