Hardwood Heat: Nashville’s Best Moments from a Packed Saturday Slate

Photo / Lipscomb Athletics / Mateo Esmeraldo shoots vs Austin Peay

Game 1: Lipscomb vs. Austin Peay

In a Middle Tennessee battle at Allen Arena, Lipscomb edged Austin Peay, 82–78, handing the Governors their first ASUN loss. The Bisons started quickly, with Grant Asman opening the scoring. A sharp 13–2 run gave Lipscomb a 25–16 lead, but Austin Peay fought back, including points from a technical foul that helped close the gap. By halftime, Austin Peay led 42–40.

After the break, Lipscomb regained the lead when Titas Sargiunas hit a three. The game stayed tight, with leads changing hands until Ethan Duncan’s bench scoring and a crucial triple from Mate Esmeraldo pushed Lipscomb’s lead to 78–74. Asman sealed the win with free throws in the closing seconds. Lipscomb got balanced production — five players scored in double figures — with Esmeraldo leading with 16 points in an intense home victory.

Game 2: Trevecca vs. Union

Trevecca Nazarene posted a convincing 80–63 home win over Union behind stingy defense and balanced scoring. An early 14–2 run put the Trojans up 24–13, and they closed the half leading 42–25 after a dominant defensive stretch that limited Union to just 25 first-half points.

Although Union made a push early in the second half with a 12–2 run, Trevecca never lost control. Contributions from bench players such as Justin Bass and Tyler Moore and capitalizing on Union’s foul trouble helped the Trojans extend their lead. Trevecca finished strong, holding Union to 63 points for another solid conference victory.

Game 3: Belmont vs. Southern Illinois

Belmont rallied for a dramatic 73–68 road win over Southern Illinois at the Banterra Center. Trailing for much of the game, Belmont stormed back with a 12–0 run led by Eoin Dillon to take a 69–62 lead in the closing seconds. Bez Jenkins played a key role down the stretch, making crucial free throws.

Belmont’s three-point shooting was poor (5 of 25), but the Bruins dominated inside (42 points in the paint) and on the glass (41 rebounds), showcasing toughness and resilience. Dillon finished with 18 points, and the team effort keeps Belmont near the top nationally in true road victories.

Game 4: Tennessee State vs. Southern Indiana

Tennessee State earned a gritty 73–67 win over Southern Indiana, paced by Aaron Nkrumah’s 24 points and 11 rebounds. After a 38–33 halftime lead, the Tigers withstood a Screaming Eagles comeback and closed the game on a decisive 9–0 run.

Nkrumah’s late heroics, including a clutch three with 1:16 remaining, helped seal the victory. Tennessee’s defense forced 13 turnovers and recorded five blocks. Antoine Lorick III added 17 points and five assists in a strong team effort.

Game 5: Middle Tennessee vs. Missouri State

Middle Tennessee prevailed in a double-overtime classic, beating Missouri State 90–87. Torey Alston’s late defensive play forced the decisive shot in the closing seconds. The Blue Raiders shot well, led by Kamari Lands, who scored a career-high 21 points.

The game featured 12 lead changes, and Middle Tennessee’s resilience — answering Missouri State’s runs with clutch plays, plus strong shooting and rebounding — ultimately secured the win and reinforced their Conference USA standing.

Game 6: Tennessee vs. Kentucky

Tennessee fell narrowly to Kentucky, 80–78, in a tense matchup at Food City Center. Ja’Kobi Gillespie led all scorers with 24 points. Tennessee built a 17-point advantage, but Kentucky rallied late to take the lead in the final moments.

Despite solid efforts from Gillespie and Nate Ament (17 points), the Volunteers couldn’t close it out as Kentucky capitalized on offensive rebounds and late free throws. The loss exposed Tennessee’s struggles finishing games and dropped their record to 12–6 in competitive SEC play.

Game 7: Vanderbilt vs. Florida

At Memorial Gymnasium, No. 19 Florida edged No. 10 Vanderbilt, 98–94, in a high-scoring affair. Xaivian Lee’s step-back three with 45 seconds remaining gave the Gators the lead for good. Lee finished with 20 points and six rebounds; Rueben Chinyelu added 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Vanderbilt led early, but Florida answered with a 17–2 run to go up 30–19. The Commodores rallied, with Tyler Tanner leading Vanderbilt with 20 points and key contributions from Duke Miles and AK Okereke (15 points each).

The teams traded leads several times in a fast-paced second half, but Florida’s dominance on the boards (40–26) and second-chance points (22–8) proved decisive. Despite Vanderbilt shooting better than 50% from the field, Florida’s late execution earned the win, moving the Gators to 13–5 (4–1 SEC) while Vanderbilt fell to 16–2 (3–2 SEC).