Live Updates: No. 18 Tennessee Basketball opens season at home vs. Mercer

Tennessee Basketball’s preseason is over. The regular-season schedule is officially here and begins Monday night when the Vols host Mercer in a 7 p.m. Eastern Time start at Food City Center. The game is not televised but is available via streaming on SEC Network+.

Follow along for all the live updates before, during and after tonight’s game on The General’s Quarters

The Vols during the preseason hosted Ohio State in a closed scrimmage on October 18 and lost 83-76 to No. 6 Duke last Sunday at Food City Center.

Mercer is coming off a 14-19 season and is ranked No. 239 overall in the first KenPom ratings of the season, with the Bears predicted to win 14 games again this season. Head coach Ryan Ridder is in his second season at Mercer, after three seasons at UT Martin.

How to Watch: No. 18 Tennessee vs. Mercer

When: Monday, 7 p.m. Eastern Time | Where: Food City Center

Streaming: SEC Network+ (Myan Patel, Steve Hamer)

Radio: WNML 99.1 FM in Knoxville (Mike Keith, John Wilkerson). The Vol Network radio broadcast can be heard on local affiliates across the state of Tennessee.

SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 132 | SXM App 192

KenPom Prediction: Tennessee 86, Mercer 60

Tennessee Basketball’s history vs. Mercer

Tennessee is 4-4 in eight games against Mercer, with all three of the four Mercer wins dating back to 1924 or earlier. 

The latest meeting was an 84-60 Tennessee win in Knoxville in November 2017, early in the third season under Rick Barnes. The Vols beat Mercer 64-54 in December 2014, just nine months removed from an 83-63 win in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Raleigh, N.C., after Mercer upset Duke in the first round.

Mercer won 24-18 in the first meeting on February 7, 1913 in Macon, Ga. Mercer won again at home, 28-20, in February 1921 and won 28-23 in Knoxville in January 1924.

Tennessee’s first win over Mercer was a 67-45 game in December 1993. 

Last Time: No. 6 Duke 83, No. 18 Tennessee 76

Tennessee led by as many as nine points in the first half of the sold-out exhibition game against Duke last week, but the Blue Devils started the second half on a 29-9 and never lost control from there, building what was as much as a nine-point lead of its own late in the game. 

Five-star freshman Nate Ament had a double-double in his unofficial debut with 14 points and 10 rebounds, but went just 5-for-19 from the field, including 0-for-5 from the 3-point field goal. Maryland transfer point guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie had 19 points and eight assists but went just 5-for-21 from the field, including 3-for-13 from the 3-point line. 

Duke five-star freshman power forward Cameron Boozer was dominant with 24 points, 23 rebounds and six assists. Isaiah Evans added 22 points on 4-for-9 3-point shooting.