Tennessee

How Tennessee basketball, Nate Ament pushed through Vanderbilt’s physicality

Published

4 months ago

February 21, 2026

How Tennessee basketball, Nate Ament pushed through Vanderbilt’s physicality

NASHVILLE — Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes often calls the SEC the most physical league in college basketball.

The Vols and Vanderbilt amped up the physicality to a higher level on Feb. 21. The referees largely allowed the players to push, trip and grab each other throughout the game. Splashes of orange repeatedly fell on the hardwood at Memorial Gymnasium.

The Vols (20-7, 10-4 SEC), however, continued to pick themselves back up in a 69-65 win over No. 18 Vanderbilt (21-6, 8-6), tying a program record of five consecutive 20-win seasons. The Vols last achieved the feat under Don DeVoe from 1980 to 1985.

Tennessee coach Rick Barnes called the game “pretty physical.” Sophomore guard Bishop Boswell agreed.

“I think it’s pretty high up there,” Boswell said about where this win ranks for the team. “A rivalry game like this, you’re going to have to grind it out. It’s not always going to be easy and I think we did that.”

The increased intensity bothered Nate Ament through much of the game. The freshman, who scored 13 points on 3-of-13 shooting, often found himself challenging a sea of Commodores at the rim or attempting to regain his balance.

On one play, Ament blew past a defender and had his easiest shot attempt of the game. Instead of a highlight dunk fueling Tennessee’s second-half comeback, the 6-foot-10 forward slammed the ball into the rim. He would redeem himself, though, with an impossible jump shot against blanket coverage that gave the Vols a 66-65 lead with 54 seconds remaining.

“He struggled,” Barnes said. “They had a lot to do with that, obviously. But he made that one when it counted. He stayed with it.”

Tennessee basketball’s ‘other’ players were key

Although Ja’Kobi Gillespie led the Vols with 17 points, and Ament buried the picture-perfect shot, Barnes made sure to credit the role players.

Before Ament’s bucket, Boswell made two baskets that erased Vanderbilt’s three-point lead in the final 90 seconds.

“It was important because I do think Ja’Kobi and Nate were winded,” Barnes said. “Vanderbilt did a great job of guarding them all night long, like we guarded their guys. It’s going to come back to where those other three guys have to be able to make the plays. The steals that we had on the other end were important to get us back into the game. Ethan (Burg) had a great night. Amari (Evans) and Bishop, and DeWayne (Brown II), those guys were the key to the game today.”

Brown and Burg specifically made several plays to bring Tennessee back from a 49-42 deficit 10 minutes into the second half. Brown started the half for Felix Okpara, who was in foul trouble, and closed the game. He made a layup that brought Tennessee within four points, then made another that gave the Vols a 53-51 lead.

“DeWayne was really good,” Barnes said. “He played a lot of minutes. The more he’s out there, the better he’s going to be. He’s been the biggest surprise on the team this year. We talked about it earlier in the year when we got everybody together for the first time. Somebody is going to surprise you and somebody is going to disappoint you. No question DeWayne Brown has been the biggest surprise of the team this year.”

Burg re-entered the Vols’ rotation after his performance against LSU, and he further cemented his role against Vanderbilt. He drew an offensive foul, got a steal, and made a layup that tied the game.

As March approaches, Boswell feels better about the Vols’ depth after every win.

“Everybody might not have their best night every game,” he said, “but I think we have 15 guys that can come in and make an impact.”

Wynton Jackson covers high school sports for Knox News. Email: wynton.jackson@knoxnews.com

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Things to do in the Chattanooga area this week include Chickapalooza, Amy Grant, Summerween | Chattanooga Times Free Press

Published

32 minutes ago

June 20, 2026

Press Room

Things to do in the Chattanooga area this week include Chickapalooza, Amy Grant, Summerween | Chattanooga Times Free Press

COMEDY

‘The Muslims are Coming’

When: 7 p.m. Wednesday

Where: The Comedy Catch, 29 Station St.

Cost: $23 for general admission

More info: Showcase of Muslim (and non-Muslim) comedians.

thecomedycatch.com

FILM

‘Toy Story 5’

When: 6:15 p.m. Monday-Thursday

Where: Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 3D Theater, 201 Chestnut St.

Cost: $15 for general admission

More info: Latest installment in the long-running Pixar franchise about the lives of childhood toys.

tnaqua.org/imax

Bobby Stone Film Series

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. Sunday

Where: Walker Theatre, 399 McCallie Ave.

Cost: $13.50 for general admission

More info: Screenings include: “Resurrection” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, “Rear Window” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and “The Sparks Brothers” at 4 p.m. Sunday.

tivolichattanooga.com

–––

‘Supergirl’

When: 5 and 7:15 p.m. Friday-Sunday

Where: Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 3D Theater, 201 Chestnut St.

Cost: $15 for general admission

More info: Summer blockbuster about Superman’s cousin, Supergirl.

tnaqua.org/imax

–––

Movie night

When: 8 p.m. Friday

Where: Chester Frost Park, 7872 Causeway Road

Cost: Free

More info: Hamilton County Parks and Recreation hosts a free movie night screening of “Finding Nemo.” Includes games, vendors and more.

facebook.com

MUSIC

Ramsey & Broemel

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Songbirds, 206 W. Main St.

Cost: $30 in advance

More info: Musicians Tyler Ramsey and Carl Broemel from Of My Morning Jacket performs.

venue.songbirds.org

–––

Fielder

When: 6 p.m. Thursday

Where: The Woodshop, 5500 St. Elmo Ave.

Cost: $13 for general admission

More info: Nashville-based duo Fielder performs.

thewoodshoplisteningroom.com

–––

Chris Knight

When: 7 p.m. Thursday

Where: Songbirds, 206 W. Main St.

Cost: $30 in advance

More info: Kentucky native Chris Knight performs.

venue.songbirds.org

–––

Barkley Cove

When: 6 p.m. Friday

Where: The Woodshop, 5500 St. Elmo Ave.

Cost: $10 for general admission

More info: Folk ensemble Barkley Cove performs.

thewoodshoplisteningroom.com

–––

Nightfall

When: 6 p.m. Friday

Where: Miller Plaza, 850 Market St.

Cost: Free admission

More info: Free summer concert series Nightfall continues, with The 42 as opener and Zach Person as headliner. Also features food trucks and market vendors.

nightfallchattanooga.com

–––

Chelsea Drugstore

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: Songbirds, 206 W. Main St.

Cost: $15 in advance

More info: Chelsea Drugstore, a tribute to the Rolling Stones, performs.

venue.songbirds.org

–––

R&B vs. Hip Hop

When: 8 p.m. Friday

Where: Barrelhouse Ballroom, 1501 Long St.

Cost: $15 in advance, $20 day of show

More info: DJ experience, pitting R&B against Hip Hop.

barrelhouseballroom.com

–––

Struggle Jennings

When: 8 p.m. Friday

Where: The Parlour at The Signal, 21 Choo Choo Ave.

Cost: $24.50 for general admission

More info: Grandson of Waylon Jennings, Struggle Jennings, performs.

thesignaltn.com

–––

KPop Demon Hunters

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Where: The Parlour at The Signal, 21 Choo Choo Ave.

Cost: $25 for general admission

More info: Family friendly DJ experience, featuring the music of the hit Netflix animated film.

thesignaltn.com

–––

Riverfront Nights

When: 6 p.m. Saturday

Where: Ross’s Landing, 201 Riverfront Parkway

Cost: Free

More info: Free summer concert series Riverfront Nights continues for the 2026 season. Sloppy Street Tacos opens, and Jump, a tribute to Van Halen, headlines.

riverfrontnights.com

–––

Paul McDonald

When: 7 p.m. Saturday

Where: Songbirds, 206 W. Main St.

Cost: $20 in advance

More info: Paul McDonald and the Mourning Doves performs.

venue.songbirds.org

–––

Amy Grant

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Walker Theatre, 399 McCallie Ave.

Cost: $61+

More info: Singer-songwriter Amy Grant performs.

tivolichattanooga.com

OUT & ABOUT

Nooga Splash

When: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturdays

Where: Chester Frost Park, 2389 Gold Point Circle N.

Cost: $14+

More info: Floating water park Nooga Splash continues for the summer season. Main season operating hours continue through Aug. 4.

noogasplash.com

–––

Family Potluck

When: 4-9 p.m. Monday

Where: Barking Legs Theater, 1307 Dodds Ave.

Cost: Free

More info: Post Nuclear Family Potluck, an all-ages chosen family potluck. Features games, dinner and a movie.

barkinglegs.org

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Battle of Badges

When: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday

Where: Walker County Sheriff’s Office, 105 S. Duke St., LaFayette

Cost: Free

More info: Walker and Catoosa county Sheriff’s Offices host a blood donation drive.

donor.bloodassurance.org

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Farmers market

When: 3-6 p.m. Thursday

Where: Chattanooga Choo Choo, 1400 Market St.

Cost: Free admission

More info: Farmer and farmer-adjacent vendors at the Chattanooga Choo Choo.

facebook.com

–––

River market

When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays

Where: Tennessee Aquarium Plaza, 1 Broad St.

Cost: Free admission

More info: Chattanooga River Market continues, featuring various vendors. Market open Saturdays only from April-October.

chattanoogamarket.com

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Staff file photo / Jan Fowler, left, and Curtis Fowler shop items at the Chickamauga Art and Folk Festival on Aug. 16, 2025. This year, the festival, now called Chickapalooza, is set for 10 a.m.-sunset Saturday around the Gordon Lee Mansion, 217 Cove Road, Chickamauga.

Chickapalooza

When: 10 a.m.-sunset Saturday

Where: Gordon Lee Mansion, 217 Cove Road, Chickamauga

Cost: Free admission

More info: Chickapalooza Art and Music Festival, featuring a lineup of live music, artists, food and more.

facebook.com

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Staff file photo / From Point Park atop Lookout Mountain, a viewer can see the Tennessee River curve around Moccasin Bend on May 21, 2025. The Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park has a program set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Point Park, 110 Point Park Road, Lookout Mountain, Tenn., focusing on the forces that created the mountains and ridges of the Tennessee River Valley.

History program

When: 2 p.m. Saturday

Where: Point Park, 110 Point Park Road, Lookout Mountain, Tenn.

Cost: $10 park entrance fee

More info: Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park hosts program about the forces that created the mountains and ridges of the Tennessee River Valley.

nps.gov/chch

–––

Radio Field Day

When: 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday

Where: Chattanooga Valley Lions Club, 265 South Ave., Flintstone

Cost: Free

More info: Tri-States Amateur Radio Club hosts an amateur radio field day, showcasing how the technology works.

ag4dw@arrl.org

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Summerween

When: 6 p.m. Saturday

Where: Patten Square, 818 Georgia Ave.

Cost: Free

More info: Celebrate Halloween in the Summer at Summerween, featuring costume contests, a watermelon-carving contest, live music and more.

rivercitycompany.com

SPORTS

Lady Red Wolves

When: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday

Where: CHI Memorial Stadium, 1 Stadium Way

Cost: $10+

More info: Chattanooga Lady Red Wolves take on the Southern Soccer Academy.

chattanoogaredwolves-sc.com

–––

Lookouts

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday

Where: Erlanger Park, 2658 Pipe Way

Cost: $7+

More info: Chattanooga Lookouts take on the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. Promotions include: World Soccer Night and Las Montanas de Chattanooga on Tuesday, a blanket giveaway on Wednesday, a cell phone bag giveaway, drink specials and Never Text and Drive Night on Thursday, Unum Night and fireworks on Friday, Dino Weekend and a pre-game concert on Saturday and Dino Weekend and a canned food drive on Sunday.

mlb.com/milb/chattanooga

–––

Football Club

When: 7 p.m. Saturday

Where: Finley Stadium, 1826 Reggie White Blvd.

Cost: $8+

More info: Chattanooga Football Club takes on the Chicago Fire Football Club.

chattanoogafc.com

THEATER & ARTS

Dungeons and Drag-ons

When: 7 p.m. Thursday

Where: Barking Legs Theater, 1307 Dodds Ave.

Cost: $15 for general admission

More info: Dungeons and Dragons-inspired drag showcase for ages 13 and older.

barkinglegs.org

______

Have an upcoming event? Email calendar@timesfreepress.com to be considered for one of our listings or go to timesfreepress.com/calendar for immediate posting online.

Sam Still

sstill@timesfreepress.com

Sam Still is the outdoors reporter for the Chattanooga Times Free Press. In this role, Sam focuses on stories about people and their relationship to the regional environment. Sam began his journalism career as an intern for the Times Free Press, writing for the lifestyle publication Chatter Magazine. He joined the newspaper full-time in summer 2023. He received a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he was a staff writer and assistant news editor for the university’s student newspaper, The Echo. He is originally from Cleveland, Tennessee.

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Tennessee

Tennessee baseball adds pitcher Ricky Ojeda, UC Irvine transfer

Published

11 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Press Room

Tennessee baseball adds pitcher Ricky Ojeda, UC Irvine transfer

Tennessee baseball received a commitment from UC Irvine pitcher Ricky Ojeda on June 19.

Ojeda, who is eligible for the MLB draft in July, announced his decision on social media. He visited Tennessee on June 15-16.

The lefthanded Ojeda had a strong 2026 season primarily as a reliever, posting a 3.77 ERA with 62 strikeouts and 20 walks in 62 innings. In 2025, he became the first reliever to be named Big West Pitcher of the Year after going 13-1 with a 3.55 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 66 innings, which also earned him a third-team all-American nod from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and Perfect Game.

Whether Ojeda makes it to Tennessee remains an open question. Perfect Game ranked him as the No. 179 prospect for the draft. That would place him in the sixth round.

Should Ojeda join the staff, however, he would instantly become one of the team’s top options out of a bullpen that struggled immensely in 2026. The pitching staff is also under new leadership under pitching coach Austin Knight, who was hired from ECU.

Ojeda is the fourth player to announce they will transfer to Tennessee this offseason, joining two-way Mercer transfer Braydon Kersey, Northwestern State pitcher Brody Trosclair and Air Force infielder Wyatt Hanoian.

Who’s leaving Tennessee baseball

UTL Jay Abernathy (Oklahoma)
RHP Nic Abraham
INF Ariel Antigua (Arizona)
INF Finley Bates
RHP Ari Bethea
OF Hutson Chance
RHP Sawyer Deering (San Diego State)
OF Nate Eisfelder
1B Evan Hankins (Virginia Tech)
UTL Hunter High
RHP Brayden Krenzel (Arkansas)
INF Manny Marin
INF Ethan Moore (Missouri)
UTL Chris Newstrom
LHP Taylor Tracey
C Cash Williams (West Virginia)

Who’s joining Tennessee baseball

RHP/DH Braydon Kersey
LHP Brody Trosclair
INF Wyatt Hanoian
LHP Ricky Ojeda

Emmett Siegel covers Tennessee baseball for Knox News. Email: emmett.siegel@knoxnews.com; X: @EmmettSiegel_

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Tennessee

Shooting Hunger event aims to prevent childhood hunger in West Tennessee

Published

21 hours ago

June 19, 2026

Press Room

Shooting Hunger event aims to prevent childhood hunger in West Tennessee

JACKSON, Tenn. (WBBJ) – An exciting day of sporting clays in West Tennessee is doubling as a major fight against hunger.

Today’s “Shooting Hunger” event took place at the Carroll County Shooting Sports Park in Huntingdon. It’s a partnership between Tennessee Farm Bureau, Tennessee Farmers Co-Op, Farm Credit Mid-America and Rural First.

Shooting Hunger at Carroll County Shooting Sports Park(Gray News)

Since 2015, Shooting Hunger has helped provide more than three million meals to Tennesseans with money going to food banks, backpack programs, and local hunger relief. A $500 scholarship will also go to the top youth shooter in each flight.

“We’re joining together to raise money for school backpacks to feed hungry kids. We do these, we actually do three of these across the state of Tennessee so at the end of the day we take, we take all the money we put it into a pile and when we divide equally amongst all 95 counties across the state of Tennessee,“ said Bryan Wright, executive vice president for the Tennessee Farm Bureau.

Organizers say events like this matter because one in six children in Tennessee struggle with hunger.

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