Jahmai Mashack: Tennessee's exhibition win over Lithuania 'was definitely what we needed'
Of all the events on Tennessee’s itinerary in Italy this week, there was only one that involved a basketball. It was the exhibition game Friday against the Lithuanian U21 national team in Florence.
It was no regular game day for the Vols. There was no pregame shoot around. Instead, earlier in the day, the team climbed 463 steps to get to the aerial view of the city from the top of the Duomo of Florence, the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral.
All things considered, Tennessee junior wing Jahmai Mashack felt things went well in the 97-57 exhibition win.
“I think for our team it was definitely what we needed,” Mashack said. “Just to go out there and play against somebody different than ourselves. But I think it was a challenge for us just to try to get the chemistry going, playing with each other instead of against each other everyday.”
Vols newcomers on display in first exhibition game
Mashack started and scored 12 points, going 5-for-12 from the floor and filling up his stat line with six steals, five rebounds and four assists.
Transfers Dalton Knecht and Jordan Gainey combined for 26 points. Knecht had 14 on 5-for-14 shooting from the field, going 4-for-11 from the 3-point line. Gainey had 12 points, going 4-for-10 from the 3-point line.
Freshman JP Estrella had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. Redshirt freshman point guard Freddie Dilione V had 13 points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals. Redshirt freshman wing DJ Jefferson finished with two points on 1-for-7 shooting.
“I think they all played well,” Mashack said of the newcomers who made their unofficial debuts with the Vols. “Obviously there’s still some stuff they’re trying to get used to, playing with this team, for these coaches, playing with some of these players.
“But I think they did a good job adjusting. As long as they stay confident, they stay aggressive, I think we’re going to be good with them. I think they’re going to have fun on this team.”
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Tennessee led 29-16 after the first quarter, was up 52-28 at halftime and was dominant in the third quarter, outscoring Lithuania 22-6. The Vols held the Lithuanian team to 29.3 percent shooting from the floor, with the opponent finishing 17-for-58. They shot just 16.7 percent from the 3-point line, going 4-for-24.
“I think it was really bad for the other team,” Mashack said, “because we finally got that connection towards the second quarter. I thought we brought it all together.”
Up Next: Tennessee vs. Lithuania U21, Saturday, 1 p.m. ET, FloHoops
Mashack noted the obvious, too. These Vols are just getting started after their exhibition opener in Italy.
“I think are still some things we need to work on, obviously,” he said. “It’s the beginning of the year, so it’s some fine tuning stuff that we have to get done.
Tennessee will play Lithuania again on Saturday (1 p.m. Eastern Time; Stream: FloHoops) and will face A.S. Stella Azzurra, a professional team, on Monday in Rome.
“I think the effort was there and our effort was definitely something that we showed throughout the game,” Mashack said Friday night. “I think when you have effort on defense, I think it will show a little bit in the stats. I think the details are going to take us over the top, when we get those down.”
