Tennessee defeats Houston in the Players Era Festival, avenging a previous loss.

Tennessee's performance strongly indicated a desire for retribution, even though they didn't officially call it a revenge game.

After being knocked out of the NCAA Tournament by Houston last year, the Volunteers came into this game without a loss and having had plenty of rest, showing a strong desire to change the past outcome. Ja’Kobi Gillespie's 22 points, achieved on 5-of-16 shooting (with 3-of-9 from three-point range and a flawless 9-of-9 at the foul line), were crucial to the Vols' 76-73 victory. 

The Cougars, a team ranked among the top three, started the contest impressively. Freshman Kingston Flemings proved especially impactful in the early stages, finishing with 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting. Milos Uzan chipped in 17 points, and the Cougars made 4-of-6 three-point shots during the initial minutes. They maintained a 39–35 advantage at the break, even with Emanuel Sharp facing foul difficulties, which restricted him to eight points over 21 minutes. Chris Cenac Jr. Excelled on the glass, securing 11 rebounds alongside his five points.

Tennessee's competitive edge stemmed from a unified team performance. Despite an off-shooting night (1-for-8), freshman Nate Ament contributed nine points and five rebounds. Felix Okpara scored nine points, Cade Phillips added two, and Bishop Boswell had his best college game yet, scoring a career-high 10 points on perfect shooting (4-for-4), along with three assists and three steals. The reserves were vital; Jaylen Carey scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds in 22 key minutes, and J.P. Estrella's strong post presence and Amaree Abram's floor spacing enabled Tennessee to stay competitive.

Houston experienced a substantial change in momentum during the latter half, facing offensive difficulties. The Cougars went through a period of more than seven minutes without scoring a field goal, missing 15 out of 17 attempts at one point, and finished the second half shooting around 30%. Tennessee's advantage was challenged when Flemings connected on a pull-up three-pointer with seven seconds left, reducing the gap to a single point.

Following that, Gillespie gained possession and made both free throws, adding to Tennessee's 23-of-29 free throw shooting. Houston's last shot missed.

The Volunteers secured a win, marking a moment of both retribution and a strong declaration. This November matchup presented a demanding early-season trial of endurance, a quality frequently vital for sustained achievement.

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