University of Tennessee Athletics
Postgame Notes: UT 82, UNCA 78
November 13, 2015 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 13, 2015
Tonight marked the beginning of the 107th season of Tennessee Basketball. The Vols hold an all-time record of 1,570-1,002-2 (.610) following tonight's win.
Tonight marked the 450th game for the Vols in Thompson-Boling Arena.
Tonight marked the regular-season debut for Rick Barnes as Tennessee's head coach. Barnes won his exhibition debut last Friday over Alabama-Huntsville.
Barnes is the 20th head coach in program history.
The Volunteers opened the season at home for the first time in three years.
Official attendance for tonight's game was 11,564.
Head coach Rick Barnes earned his first-career win with the Vols and improved to 605-314 in his career.
The Vols are now 332-118 all-time at Thompson-Boling Arena, including a 27-2 mark in home openers.
Tennessee has now won 24 straight home openers dating back to 1992.
The Vols snapped a four-game home losing streak dating back to last season.
Tennessee snapped a two-game losing streak in season openers.
UT won its 133rd game in its last 151 contests against non-conference foes.
Tennessee starters were Kevin Punter, Robert Hubbs III, Devon Baulkman, Armani Moore and Derek Reese.
True freshman Shembari Phillips was the first off the bench. Overall, 10 different players saw the floor for the Vols.
All three of UT's true freshmen: Admiral Schofield, Kyle Alexander and Shembari Phillips saw their first action in a Vols' uniform.
Phillips and Schofield scored two points apiece while Alexander grabbed three rebounds.
Tennessee improved to 10-0 all-time against UNC Asheville.
The Vols also remained perfect at home against the Bulldogs, running their record to 9-0 against them in Knoxville.
Senior guard Kevin Punter scored a career-high 31 points.
Punter poured in 15 points in the first half alone, accounting for nearly half of the Vols' 34 points in the opening 20 minutes.
Tonight marked the 20th time in Punter's career that he's scored in double figures. He led all scorers on the night with his 31 points, well over his scoring average of 10.3 points per game last season.
Junior guard Robert Hubbs III also set a new career-high in points with 18.
Of Hubbs III 18 points, 13 came in the second half.
Tennessee's 82 points were more than the Vols scored in any game last season. Their season high last year was 78 points at LSU (3/4/15).
The Vols had 42 points in the paint, more than they had in any game last season. Last season's high was 40 against Arkansas on Jan. 13, 2015.
Jabari McGhee was the third Vol to set a new career high in scoring, posting nine points while also grabbing six boards.
Tennessee did a solid job spreading the ball around with three players scoring in double figures and five scoring eight or more points.
UT finished with 16 assists for the game.
Playing faster is a focus for the Vols this season as they averaged 14 seconds per possession in tonight's game.
The Vols travel to Georgia Tech for their first road contest of the season on Nov. 16.
The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU at 7 p.m. ET.
Tennessee is 42-27 all-time against the Yellow Jackets. However, GT won the last meeting with a 77-62 win in Knoxville back in 2004.
Recap |
Final Stats |
Photo Gallery 
Postgame Notes 
Postgame Notes
The Basics
With the Win
For Starters
Newcomers
Series History
Series History
Offensive Highlights
Up Next
MBB | Nate Ament Media Availability (8.20.25)
Wednesday, August 20
MBB | Clarence Massamba Media Availability (8.20.25)
Wednesday, August 20
MBB | Justin Gainey Media Availability (8.20.25)
Wednesday, August 20
MBB | DeWayne Brown II Media Availability (7.31.25)
Thursday, July 31
