FLORENCE, Italy — The Tennessee basketball team opened its three-game exhibition tour of Italy with a 97-57 victory over the Lithuanian U21 National Team Friday at Palacoverciano in Florence.
Playing four 10-minute quarters per FIBA rules, the Volunteers took a 52-28 lead into the halftime break before outscoring the Lithuanians, 22-6, during a dominant third quarter.
Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes took a spectator role Friday, enabling his staff—led by associate head coach Justin Gainey—to handle in-game tactical adjustments.
Incoming fifth-year transfer Dalton Knecht led the Vols in scoring with 14 points, highlighted by four 3-pointers. Fellow transfer Jordan Gainey also drained four 3-pointers as part of a 13-point performance.
Redshirt freshman guard Freddie Dilione V put together an impressive 13-point, five-assist, three-steal showing, setting the tone for the Big Orange offensively.
Big men Tobe Awaka (13 points, 10 rebounds) and J.P. Estrella (11 points, 10 rebounds) both logged double-doubles off the bench.
Starting wing Jahmai Mashack scored all 12 of his points in the first half—getting to the rim often—and also finished with six steals, five rebounds, four assists and a block.
As a team, Tennessee shot .442 from the field and .324 from 3-point range. The Vols lived up to their reputation as stingy defenders, holding the Lithuanian squad below .300 shooting from the field and allowing only four made triples on 24 attempts (.167).
Gantas Krizanauskas was the only Lithuanian to score in double digits, totaling 12 points.
Earlier Friday afternoon, the Vols enjoyed a walking tour of historic downtown Florence, highlighted by trekking up 463 steps to the top of the famous Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.
Tennessee and Lithuania will play a second game Saturday at 7 p.m. local time / 1 p.m. ET. Fans can access a live video stream of the game by purchasing a one-month subscription to FloHoops.