Kansas deals No. 17 Tennessee its 1st loss, 81-76 in 3rd-place game at Players Era Championship

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LAS VEGAS (AP) — Melvin Council Jr. and Elmarko Jackson each scored 17 points and Kansas defeated previously unbeaten No. 17 Tennessee 81-76 in the third-place game of the Players Era Championship on Wednesday night.

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LAS VEGAS (AP) — Melvin Council Jr. and Elmarko Jackson each scored 17 points and Kansas defeated previously unbeaten No. 17 Tennessee 81-76 in the third-place game of the Players Era Championship on Wednesday night.

Tre White added 14 points for Kansas (6-2) before fouling out and Florey Bidunga scored 13.

Nata Ament led Tennessee (7-1) with 20 points. Jaylen Carey and Ja’Kobe Gillespie each scored 11 points and J.P. Estrella added 10.

Kansas guard Melvin Council Jr., right, celebrates with teammate Justin Cross, left, after Kansas defeated Tennessee in an NCAA college basketball game in the Players Era tournament in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Kansas guard Melvin Council Jr., right, celebrates with teammate Justin Cross, left, after Kansas defeated Tennessee in an NCAA college basketball game in the Players Era tournament in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Kansas, which trailed most of the second half, took the lead with 5:36 remaining on Paul Mbiya’s layup and extended the lead to four points at 68-64 on a driving layup by Jackson with 5:08 left.

The Jayhawks extended the lead to seven points at 75-68 with 2:02 left before Tennessee cut the lead to 75-73 with 56 seconds left. Bidunga made two free throws and stole a pass with 20 seconds left, and the Jayhawks held on for the win.

With 15:06 remaining the second half, Tennessee had built a 12-point lead. But, the Jayhawks ran off eight straight points on two 3-pointers and two free throws by Jackson to pull within 55-51 with 12:09 remaining.

Tennessee built back a six-point advantage with 8:21 left, but Council made two layups and two free throws to tie the game at 62-62 with 7:25 left.

Up next

Tennessee: At Syracuse on Tuesday.

Kansas: Hosts Connecticut on Tuesday.

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