Tennessee Volunteers Dominate Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs 94-52
Sunday, December 21, 2025, 3:00 PM ET · Food City Center
Tennessee Volunteers 94, Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs 52, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs vs Tennessee Volunteers?
Tennessee Volunteers beat Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs 94-52 at Food City Center on December 21, 2025.
The Tennessee Volunteers showcased their dominance in a decisive victory against the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs, winning 94-52 at the Food City Center. This matchup highlighted the stark contrast in the teams' recent performances, with Tennessee holding a home record of 9-3 compared to Gardner-Webb's struggling 2-13 record. Tennessee entered the game with a solid form, winning seven of their last ten games, while Gardner-Webb had only managed to win two of their last ten, indicating a significant disparity in momentum.
Tennessee's recent form has been impressive, averaging 81.6 points scored per game while allowing 66.1 points. In their last five games, they recorded an average of 71.4 points scored and 70.6 points allowed. Their latest game before this matchup was a convincing 83-62 win against the Louisville Cardinals. In contrast, Gardner-Webb has struggled, averaging 70.7 points scored while allowing a staggering 84.9 points per game. Their recent performances included a 105-65 win against Toccoa Falls Eagles, but prior to that, they faced a series of losses, including an 83-57 defeat to Wofford Terriers.
At home, Tennessee has been a formidable opponent with a record of 6-2, while Gardner-Webb has struggled on the road, holding a record of 0-4 away from home. This game was particularly noteworthy as it marked the second meeting between the two teams this season; Tennessee had previously defeated Gardner-Webb 80-64 on November 5, 2024.
In terms of injuries, the block does not provide specific details, but the overall health of the teams can often impact performance. Tennessee's ability to maintain a strong lineup has contributed to their success, while Gardner-Webb's struggles have likely been exacerbated by their inability to field a consistent team.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, listed Tennessee as a heavy favorite with a spread of -42.5 and a total of 152.5 points. The odds for the over were set at -115.0, while the under was at -105.0, reflecting the expectation of a high-scoring game dominated by the Volunteers.
The conditions at the Food City Center were conducive to a strong performance from the home team, and Tennessee took full advantage. The Volunteers' scoring was led by a series of impressive plays, including a driving layup by DJ Jefferson and a dunk by Felix Okpara, showcasing their offensive prowess throughout the game.
As the game progressed, Tennessee maintained control, with their scoring plays consistently outpacing Gardner-Webb's efforts. The final score of 94-52 underscores the Volunteers' strength and the challenges faced by the Runnin' Bulldogs in this matchup. Tennessee's performance solidifies their standing as a formidable force in the NCAAB landscape, while Gardner-Webb will need to regroup and reassess their strategies moving forward.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | TENN -42.5 | 152.5 o -115 / u -105 | Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs — · Tennessee Volunteers — |
Leaders
- PointsJa'Kobi Gillespie15Tennessee Volunteers
- AssistsJa'Kobi Gillespie9Tennessee Volunteers
- ReboundsDeWayne Brown II14Tennessee Volunteers
- PointsCurtis Williams III14Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs
- AssistsColin Hawkins4Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs
- ReboundsCurtis Williams III4Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs
Recent form
Tennessee Volunteers
Last 10: 7-3Streak W181.6 scored · 66.1 allowed per game6-2 at home
- W83-62vs Louisville CardinalsDec 17
- L62-75vs Illinois Fighting IlliniDec 7
- L60-62at Syracuse OrangeDec 3
- L76-81vs Kansas JayhawksNov 27
- W76-73at Houston CougarsNov 25
- W85-60vs Rutgers Scarlet KnightsNov 24
- W89-60vs Tennessee State TigersNov 21
- W91-66vs Rice OwlsNov 18
- W99-66vs North Florida OspreysNov 13
- W95-56vs Northern Kentucky NorseNov 8
Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs
Last 10: 2-8Streak W170.7 scored · 84.9 allowed per game0-4 away
- W105-65vs Toccoa Falls EaglesDec 18
- L57-83vs Wofford TerriersDec 16
- W77-63vs Brevard TornadosDec 13
- L84-88vs Georgia Southern EaglesDec 6
- L74-107at Queens University RoyalsDec 4
- L62-88at UNC Wilmington SeahawksNov 29
- L68-76vs SE Louisiana LionsNov 28
- L51-84vs Navy MidshipmenNov 26
- L67-102at Richmond SpidersNov 23
- L62-93at DePaul Blue DemonsNov 19
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Point | 31-5 | - | 15-1 |
| Winthrop | 23-11 | 2 | 13-3 |
| Radford | 16-16 | 6 | 9-7 |
| Longwood | 16-16 | 7 | 8-8 |
| UNC Asheville | 15-17 | 7 | 8-8 |
| Presbyterian | 15-18 | 8 | 7-9 |
| Charleston Southern | 15-17 | 9 | 6-10 |
| South Carolina Upstate | 13-19 | 10 | 5-11 |
| Gardner-Webb | 4-29 | 14 | 1-15 |
| Florida | 27-8 | - | 16-2 |
| Arkansas | 28-9 | 3 | 13-5 |
| Alabama | 25-10 | 3 | 13-5 |
| Vanderbilt | 27-9 | 5 | 11-7 |
| Tennessee | 25-12 | 5 | 11-7 |
| Texas A&M | 22-12 | 5 | 11-7 |
| Georgia | 22-11 | 6 | 10-8 |
| Kentucky | 22-14 | 6 | 10-8 |
| Missouri | 20-13 | 6 | 10-8 |
| Texas | 21-15 | 7 | 9-9 |
| Auburn | 22-16 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Oklahoma | 21-16 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Mississippi State | 13-19 | 11 | 5-13 |
| Ole Miss | 15-20 | 12 | 4-14 |
| South Carolina | 13-19 | 12 | 4-14 |
| LSU | 15-17 | 13 | 3-15 |
Box score
| Stat | Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs | Tennessee Volunteers |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 20-58 | 38-71 |
| Field goal % | 34 | 54 |
| Three-pointers | 7-30 | 10-31 |
| Three-point % | 23 | 32 |
| Free throws | 5-9 | 8-12 |
| Free throw % | 56 | 67 |
| Rebounds | 25 | 50 |
| Offensive rebounds | 6 | 15 |
| Defensive rebounds | 19 | 35 |
| Assists | 8 | 21 |
| Steals | 6 | 10 |
| Blocks | 1 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 9 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 5 | 16 |
| Fast-break points | 4 | 17 |
| Points in the paint | 22 | 52 |
| Fouls | 12 | 7 |
| Largest lead | 5 | 46 |
| Lead changes | 1 | 1 |
| Time in front | 11 | 86 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half19-48Colin Hawkins makes driving layup
- 1st Half19-50Felix Okpara makes layup (DeWayne Brown II assists)
- 1st Half19-52DeWayne Brown II makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half19-54DeWayne Brown II makes layup (Ja'Kobi Gillespie assists)
- 2nd Half20-54Spence Sims makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half20-57Ja'Kobi Gillespie makes 25-foot three point jumper (Nate Ament assists)
- 2nd Half22-57Jacob Hogarth makes 11-foot jumper
- 2nd Half22-59Ja'Kobi Gillespie makes layup
- 2nd Half22-60Bishop Boswell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half22-61Bishop Boswell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half24-61Jamias Ferere makes layup (Colin Hawkins assists)
- 2nd Half24-62Jaylen Carey makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half24-64Jaylen Carey makes layup
- 2nd Half24-66Amaree Abram makes 15-foot jumper
- 2nd Half24-68Amaree Abram makes layup
- 2nd Half26-68Colin Hawkins makes layup
- 2nd Half26-70Jaylen Carey makes layup (J.P. Estrella assists)
- 2nd Half26-71Amaree Abram makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half26-72Amaree Abram makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half28-72Curtis Williams III makes 17-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half28-74Amaree Abram makes driving layup
- 2nd Half31-74DJ Jefferson makes 25-foot three point step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half31-77Troy Henderson makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half33-77Curtis Williams III makes driving layup
- 2nd Half35-77Jacob Hogarth makes 7-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half35-80Amaree Abram makes 29-foot three point jumper (Troy Henderson assists)
- 2nd Half38-80DJ Jefferson makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jacob Hudson assists)
- 2nd Half38-82Ja'Kobi Gillespie makes 10-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half38-84DeWayne Brown II makes 3-foot dunk (Ja'Kobi Gillespie assists)
- 2nd Half41-84NaVuan Peterson makes 24-foot three point jumper (Curtis Williams III assists)
- 2nd Half44-84Spence Sims makes 23-foot three point jumper (Bo Barber assists)
- 2nd Half44-87Bishop Boswell makes 27-foot three point jumper (Nate Ament assists)
- 2nd Half46-87DJ Jefferson makes layup (Bo Barber assists)
- 2nd Half48-87DJ Jefferson makes driving layup
- 2nd Half48-89Felix Okpara makes 5-foot dunk (Clarence Massamba assists)
- 2nd Half49-89Curtis Williams III makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-89Curtis Williams III makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half50-92Nate Ament makes 25-foot three point jumper (Ja'Kobi Gillespie assists)
- 2nd Half52-92Colin Hawkins makes layup
- 2nd Half52-94Felix Okpara makes 3-foot dunk (DeWayne Brown II assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours Tennessee Volunteers, below favours Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs.
Venue
- Food City CenterKnoxville, TN
- Attendance19059
- OfficialsJoe Lindsay, Olandis Poole, Michael Wallace
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond