Nate Ament shines in debut as No. 18 Tennessee downs Mercer

(Photo credit: Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Prized recruit Nate Ament totaled 18 points and nine rebounds as No. 18 Tennessee opened the season with a 76-61 win over Mercer on Monday night in Knoxville, Tenn.

The Volunteers struggled out of the gate in front of their home crowd, but they got their feet under them to take a 12-point halftime lead.

The 6-foot-10 Ament,