2006-07 Vanderbilt Men's Basketball Gameday

2006-07 VANDERBILT SCHEDULE
GEORGETOWN 86 VANDERBILT 70
Nov. 15, 2006 — Nashville, Tenn. — VU (0-1), GU (2-0)
POST-GAMERecap  |  Quotes
#8 HOYAS HOLD OFF ‘DORES, 86-70
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Jeff Green scored 19 points, Roy Hibbert added 18 with 10 rebounds, and No. 8 Georgetown never trailed in beating Vanderbilt 86-70 on Wednesday night.. Alex Gordon had 15 points off the bench, and Derrick Byars added 14 for Vanderbilt, which lost its season opener on its home court for the first time since 1990.
WAKE FOREST 88 VANDERBILT 78
Nov. 21, 2006 — Winston-Salem, N.C. — VU (0-2) WF (4-0)
POST-GAMERecap  |  Quotes
DEMON DEACONS DOWN ‘DORES, 88-78
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Freshman Ishmael Smith had 17 points and nine assists Tuesday night to lead Wake Forest past Vanderbilt 88-78. Fellow rookie Jamie Skeen added 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Demon Deacons (4-0), who took a double-digit lead late in the first half and stayed in control the rest of the way. Shan Foster scored 23 points for the Commodores (0-2), who hung around but struggled to get the defensive stops they needed to get back in the game. Foster shot 8-for-17 and hit three 3s against the Demon Deacons.
VANDERBILT 81 ELON 70
Nov. 25, 2006 — Nashville, Tenn. — VU (1-2), EU (1-3)
POST-GAMERecap  |  Quotes
COMMODORES PICK UP FIRST WIN, DEFEAT ELON 81-70
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — In his first start of the season, Dan Cage scored 17 points and forward Ross Neltner added a career-high 18 as Vanderbilt (1-2) rolled to a 81-70 victory over visiting Elon (1-3) at Memorial Gymnasium on Saturday night. Reserve JeJuan Brown, getting extra minutes as a result of Metcalfe’s departure, also added a career high 10 points. Elon’s LeVonn Jordan scored 26 points, which included 22 in the second half.
FURMAN 70 VANDERBILT 62
Nov. 28, 2006 — Nashville, Tenn. — VU (1-3), FU (4-2)
POST-GAME: Recap |  Quotes
FURMAN DEFEATS VANDERBILT, 70-62
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Eric Webb and Gerad Punch scored 13 points each to lead Furman to a 70-62 victory Tuesday over Vanderbilt. Robby Bostain and Stanley Jones added 11 points apiece for the Paladins (4-2), who held Vanderbilt (1-3) to just 2-of-17 3-point shooting. It was Vanderbilt’s first loss to a Southern Conference opponent since 1968, and its first ever in six meetings against Furman. Ross Neltner led Vandy with 12 points, while Dan Cage had 11 and JeJuan Brown 10.
VANDERBILT 98 TOLEDO 93 (OT)
Dec. 2, 2006 — 7 p.m. CT — Nashville, Tenn. — VU (2-3), UT (2-4)
POST-GAMERecap  |  Quotes
BEAL’S BUCKET LIFTS VU MEN PAST TOLEDO IN OT, 98-93
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A driving layup and free throw by guard Jermaine Beal with 4.4 seconds remaining lifted Vanderbilt to a 98-93 overtime victory over Toledo on Saturday night. The Rockets (2-4) led 92-87 with 2:27 remaining in overtime, but the Commodores (2-3) grabbed the lead at 93-92 with 48.5 seconds left on back-to-back 3-pointers by Derrick Byars and Ross Neltner. Forward Derrick Byars led Vanderbilt with a career-high 28 points. Guard Shan Foster added 21 and Neltner scored a career-high 20. Keonta Howell led Toledo with 32 points.
VANDERBILT 104 ETSU 62
Dec. 5, 2006 — Nashville, Tenn. — VU (3-3), ETSU (5-5)
POST-GAME: Recap  |  Quotes
MEN’S BASKETBALL DOMINATES ETSU, 104-62
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Shan Foster scored 29 points and grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds leading Vanderbilt to an early lead and a 104-62 win over East Tennessee State on Tuesday night. Vanderbilt (3-3) jumped out to a 47-23 lead at the half thanks to 20 points from Foster on 6-of-9 shooting from 3-point range. Ross Neltner added 15 points and Derrick Byars added 14 for Vanderbilt. Blake Mishler had 12 points to lead ETSU (5-5), followed by Mike Smith with 10 points and 9 from Swader.
VANDERBILT 59 LIPSCOMB 50
Dec. 7, 2006 — Nashville, Tenn. — VU (4-3), LU (6-3)
POST-GAMERecap  |  Quotes 
COMMODORES HOLD OFF BISONS, 59-50
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Derrick Byars had 19 points and nine rebounds to help Vanderbilt overcome cold shooting and defeat cross-town Lipscomb 59-50 on Thursday night. Vanderbilt (4-3) and Lipscomb (6-3) were meeting for the first time since 1955. Ross Neltner added 13 points for Vanderbilt, and Eddie Ard (14) and Trey Williams (10) had double figures for Lipscomb.
VANDERBILT 73 GEORGIA TECH 64
Dec. 9, 2006 — Nashville, Tenn. — VU (5-3), GT (6-3)
POST-GAMERecap  |  Quotes
COMMODORES TOP #25 YELLOW JACKETS, 73-64
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Shan Foster scored 25 points and Derrick Byars added 18, and Vanderbilt snapped a nine-game losing streak against ranked opponents with a 73-64 victory over No. 25 Georgia Tech on Saturday. The Commodores opened the game hitting seven of their first nine shots and led by as many as 13 points in the first half. They lost the lead by going cold, hitting only two of their final 14 shots, as Georgia Tech used a 14-0 run to take a 34-33 lead at halftime. Vanderbilt took the lead for good with a 14-4 run started by three straight baskets by Foster. Thaddeus Young had 19 points for the Yellow Jackets (6-3), who hadn’t played since losing to Miami a week ago in their Atlantic Coast Conference opener.
VANDERBILT 76 NICHOLLS STATE 40 
Dec. 16, 2006 — Nashville, Tenn. — VU (6-3), NSU (1-12)
POST-GAMERecap  |  Quotes
COMMODORE DEFENSE SMOTHERS NICHOLS STATE
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Vanderbilt (6-3) held Nicholls State to 24.5 percent shooting and forced 23 turnovers, as the Commodores never trailed in routing the Colonels 76-40 at Memorial Gym on Saturday night. Ross Neltner posted his first career double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Jermaine Beal poured in a career-high 15 points. Shan Foster added 13. The 40 points were the fewest the Commodores have allowed since defeating Georgia 65-37 on February 26, 2005. Stefan Blaszczynski added 19 points and 10 rebounds for Nicholls State.
VU 102 UPR-MAYAGUEZ 59 (Shootout)
Dec. 19, 2006 — San Juan, Puerto Rico — VU (7-3)
POST-GAME: Recap
COMMODORES CRUISE PAST PR-MAYAGUEZ, 102-59
San Juan, PUERTO RICO — Dan Cage tied a career high with 18 points to lead six Commodores in double figures as Vanderbilt cruised past tournament-host Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, 102-59, Tuesday at Mario Morales Coliseum. The victory extended Vanderbilt’s win streak to six games. Cage ended the game seven of 11 from the field with four 3-pointers. He tallied 15 of his 18 points in the second half. Derrick Byars caught fire in the second stanza with 12 of his 16 points coming after intermission. Mayaguez post player Williset Del Valle led the Bulldogs with a game-high 24 points to go along with seven rebounds.
VU 75 TENNESSEE TECH 62 (Shootout)
Dec. 20, 2006 — San Juan, Puerto Rico — VU (8-3), TTU (5-5)
POST-GAMERecap
COMMODORES ADVANCE TO CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND OF SAN JUAN SHOOTOUT
San Juan, PUERTO RICO – Ted Skuchas posted a career-high 16 points to go along with six rebounds and three blocked shots as Vanderbilt advanced to the championship round of the San Juan Shootout with a 75-62 victory against in-state foe Tennessee Tech Wednesday at Mario Morales Coliseum. The Commodores (8-3) will play Appalachian State in the final round Thursday, Dec. 21, at 3 p.m. CT. Alex Gordon matched his season-high with 15 points, hitting key 3-pointers in the second half as Tennessee Tech attempted a comeback. Derrick Byars tallied 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Dan Cage added 13 while Shan Foster contributed 10. Belton Rivers topped all Tennessee Tech scorers with 14 points. Anthony Fisher added 13.
APPALACHIAN ST. 87 VU 79 (OT) (Shootout)
Dec. 21, 2006 — San Juan, Puerto Rico — VU (8-4), APSU (10-3)
POST-GAMERecap
COMMODORES FALL IN OVERTIME OF SAN JUAN SHOOUTOUT FINALS
San Juan, PUERTO RICO – Donte Minter and D.J. Thompson combined for 42 points, including 12 in overtime, to carry Appalachian State (10-3) to an 87-79 victory in the championship game of the San Juan Shootout at Mario Morales Coliseum on Thursday. Four players scored in double figures for Vanderbilt (8-4) which saw its seven-game win streak snapped. Derrick Byars scored 13 of his 19 points in the first half and Ross Neltner tallied 11 of his 16 prior to halftime. Dan Cage scored 14 while Shan Foster had 12. The Mountaineers grabbed a 63-59 lead at 4:32 after back-to-back baskets by Minter. However, Vanderbilt clawed back, hitting four clutch 3-pointers, including two from Alex Gordon to force overtime. Cage and Byars were selected to the San Juan Shootout All-Tournament team.
VANDERBILT 86 ALABAMA A&M 47
Dec. 29, 2006 — Nashville, Tenn. — VU (9-4), AAM (5-6)
POST-GAMERecap  |  Quotes
COMMODORES STOP ALABAMA A&M, 86-47
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Derrick Byars had 20 points to lead Vanderbilt to an 86-47 win over cold-shooting Alabama A&M on Friday night. Vanderbilt (9-4) stretched its margin by shooting 11-of-25 from 3-point range, including 3-of-4 from the arc by Dan Cage for 11 points total. Jermaine Beal and Shan Foster each added 12 for the Commodores. Alabama A&M (5-6) was held to 35 percent shooting from the field and hit only 1-of-14 3-point attempts. Trant Simpson led with 17 points.
VANDERBILT 74 RICE 69 
Jan. 2, 2007 — Houston, Tex. — VU (10-4), Rice (6-6)
POST-GAMERecap  |  Quotes
VANDERBILT HOLDS OFF RICE, 74-69
HOUSTON (AP) — Forward Shan Foster matched a season-high 29 points, 26 of those in the first half, and Vanderbilt survived a late Rice rally for a 74-69 victory Tuesday night. The Commodores (10-4) jumped out to an 18-0 lead in the first eight minutes behind Foster’s hot shooting and led 45-27 at the half. The Owls (6-6) chipped away at the Vanderbilt lead throughout the second half, and didn’t allow the Commodores a field goal in the last 9:17. Morris Almond led Rice with a career-high 44 points, including 27 in the second half, and 12 rebounds. Dan Cage added 11 points for Vanderbilt.
AUBURN 68 VANDERBILT 65
Jan. 6, 2007 — Auburn, Ala. — VU (10-5, 0-1), AU (11-5, 1-0)
POST-GAMERecap  |  Quotes
VANDERBILT FALLS TO AUBURN IN SEC OPENER, 68-65
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Rasheem Barret scored a game-high 22 points as Auburn held off Vanderbilt for a 68-65 victory in both teams’ conference opener Saturday night. Auburn (11-5, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) led 38-31 at the half. Josh Dollard and Korvotney Barber had 12 points each to round out the double-digit scoring for the Tigers. Vanderbilt (10-5, 0-1) was led by Dan Cage with 19 points and Shan Foster added 14 for the Commodores. It was a close game throughout with the lead changing eight times and eight tied scores.
VANDERBILT 82 TENNESSEE 81
Jan. 10, 2007 — Nashville, Tenn. — VU (11-5, 1-1) UT (13-3, 1-1)
POST-GAMERecap  |  Quotes 
VU WINS LAST-SECOND THRILLER OVER #16 UT, 82-81
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Shan Foster scored on a putback as time expired, and Vanderbilt snapped Tennessee’s nine-game winning streak by upsetting the Vols 82-81 on Wednesday night. Duke Crews dunked to put Tennessee up 81-80 with 4.7 seconds left, but that was plenty of time for the Commodores, who blew an 11-point lead in the second half. An assistant convinced Stallings to switch plays during the timeout, and Derrick Byars drove the baseline to the basket but completely missed. Foster got the ball on the left side and sunk a shot just before the buzzer. Byars finished with 25 points for Vanderbilt, Dan Cage added 15 and Foster had 14. Chris Lofton led all scorers with 29 points for Tennessee, including 6-of-7 from 3-point range. But he didn’t score after his layup tied the game at 71 with 4:18 to go. Ramar Smith finished with 17, and Crews had 10.
GEORGIA 85 VANDERBILT 73
Jan. 13, 2007 — Athens, Ga. — VU (11-6, 1-2), UGA (10-5, 2-1)
POST-GAMERecap
BULLDOGS HOLD OFF COMMODORES, 85-73
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) -Billy Humphrey scored 17 points and gave Georgia a late lift with three baskets in a crucial two-minute span as the Bulldogs beat Vanderbilt 85-73 on Saturday. Georgia led 67-65 when Humphrey started his hot streak with a layup with 5:36 left. He followed with a 3-pointer for a 72-65 lead. After Vanderbilt’s Dan Cage answered with a 3, Humphrey was good on another 3-pointer for a 75-68 lead with 3:41 left. Levi Stukes, who led Georgia with 23 points, delivered a key steal from George Drake with 1:04 left when the Bulldogs led 75-71. The steal set up Stukes’ 3-pointer with 44 seconds left to push the lead to seven points. Derrick Byars led the Commodores (11-6 overall, 1-2 SEC) with 23 points. Cage added 17 and Shan Foster had 10.
VANDERBILT 94 ALABAMA 73
Jan. 17, 2007 — Nashville, Tenn. — VU (12-6, 2-2), UA (14-3, 1-2)
POST-GAMERecap  |  Quotes
COMMODORES CRUSH #10 CRIMSON TIDE, 94-73
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Shan Foster scored 27 points and Vanderbilt beat No. 10 Alabama 94-73 on Wednesday night with its best shooting game this season. The Commodores hit a season-high 15 3-pointers in 28 attempts and shot 58 percent overall in pulling off their second home upset of a ranked team in eight days. Vandy (12-6, 2-2 SEC) never let Alabama (14-3, 1-2) get close after the opening minutes in handing the Tide a ninth straight loss in Nashville. Alabama hasn’t won in Memorial Gym since 1990 under coach Wimp Sanderson. Derrick Byars scored 15 points for Vanderbilt, while Ross Neltner added 14 and Alex Gordon and Dan Cage each had 12. Mykal Riley led Alabama with 21 points, while Jermareo Davidson added 18, Hendrix 14 and Alonzo Gee 11.
VANDERBILT 72 KENTUCKY 67
Jan. 20, 2007 — Lexington, KY — VU (13-6, 3-2), UK (15-4, 4-1)
POST-GAMERecap  |  Quotes
VANDY DOES IT AGAIN, DEFEATS KENTUCKY AT RUPP, 72-67
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Derrick Byars had 23 points, including 12 on 3-pointers, and Vanderbilt beat No. 25 Kentucky 72-67 Saturday for the Commodores’ third-straight victory against the Wildcats and fourth win against a ranked opponent this season. Prior to last year’s win in Lexington, the Commodores (13-6, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) had never beaten the nation’s all-time winningest team in 28 meetings at Rupp Arena. Now they’ve won two straight in the building to snap Kentucky’s 11-game winning streak — third longest in the country. Dan Cage stretched the lead to nine on a 3-pointer with 1:20 remaining. The Commodores were 11-for-23 on 3s, one game after making a season-high 15 Wednesday in a victory over No. 10 Alabama. Kentucky never trailed by double-digits, but every time the Wildcats started to make a modest run, Byars or one of the other Vanderbilt outside shooters seemed to answer with a 3. Shan Foster had 16 points and Dan Cage added 10 for Vanderbilt. Bobby Perry led five double-digits scorers for Kentucky with 13 points, and Sheray Thomas had 12.
VANDERBILT 64 LSU 53
Jan. 24, 2007 — Baton Rouge — VU (14-6, 4-2), LSU (13-6, 2-3)
POST-GAMERecap  |  Quotes
FIVE AND COUNTING… ‘DORES TAME TIGERS, 64-53
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Derrick Byars scored 18 points and Shan Foster added a pair of baskets in the final minutes to give Vanderbilt its fifth straight victory over a ranked team with a 64-53 triumph over LSU (No. 22 ESPN/USA Today; No. 21 AP) on Wednesday night. LSU was doomed by a poor start and Vanderbilt (14-6, 4-2 SEC), coming off of victories over Alabama and Kentucky, remained consistent enough down the stretch to hold of a charge by the Tigers in the final 10 minutes. Vanderbilt led 51-34 after Ted Skuchas’ jump hook made it 51-34 with a little over 10 minutes to play. Foster finished with 14 points, as did Dan Cage, while Byars and Alex Gordon each grabbed 10 rebounds. Mitchell led LSU with 16 points, while Temple and Glen Davis each scored 12.
VANDERBILT 85 OLE MISS 80
Jan. 27, 2007 — Nashville, Tenn. — VU (15-6, 5-2), OM (13-8, 2-5)
POST-GAMERecap  |  Quotes
DORES EXTEND WIN STREAK, DROP OLE MISS 85-80
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Derrick Byars scored 19 points and three other Commodore players scored in double figures as Vanderbilt beat Ole Miss 85-80 Saturday. Clutch foul shooting down the stretch helped the Commodores hold off a furious second-half Ole Miss rally. Vanderbilt (15-6, 5-2) hit seven-of-eight free throws in the game’s final 2:22. Dan Cage (18 points), Shan Foster (14) and Neltner (10) helped Byars shoulder the scoring burden. Ole Miss had six players score in double-figures, led by Bam Doynes’ 22. Fifteen of Doynes’ points game in the second half. The four straight Southeastern Conference wins represent the longest streak by a Vandy team since the 1996-97 team won five in a row.
FLORIDA 74 VANDERBILT 64
Jan. 31, 2007 — Gainesville, Fla. — VU (15-7, 5-3), UF (20-2, 7-0)
POST-GAMERecap  |  Quotes
COMMODORES COME UP SHORT AGAINST NO. 1 FLORIDA, 74-64
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Lee Humphrey made three consecutive 3-pointers to key Florida’s rally from a double-digit deficit and the top-ranked Gators beat Vanderbilt 74-64 on Wednesday night. Humphrey, one of the best outside shooters in the country, added another 3 that gave Florida a 70-59 lead with 2:56 remaining and essentially sealed the team’s 13th straight victory. The Gators (20-2, 7-0 Southeastern Conference) trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half and were down 41-30 at the break. With the loss, Vanderbilt’s four-game winning streak ended, which included upset victories at Kentucky and LSU. Derrick Byars led Vandy with 21 points, including 14 in the first half.
VANDERBILT 66 GEORGIA 61
Feb. 3, 2007 — Nashville, Tenn. — VU (16-7, 6-3), UGA (13-8, 5-4)
POST-GAMERecap  |  Quotes
‘DORES BITE BACK, DEFEAT ‘DOGS 66-61
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Dan Cage had given his teammates little reason to pass him the ball through the first 22 minutes. Then Georgia coach Dennis Felton was given a technical for protesting a foul. That was all the Vanderbilt senior needed. Cage hit the two free throws and finished with 19 points — all in the second half — and Derrick Byars had a team-high 20 points to help No. 24 Vanderbilt hold off Georgia 66-61 Saturday night for the Commodores’ fifth victory in six games. Vanderbilt (16-7, 6-3) broke a tie with Georgia (13-8, 5-4) to take sole possession of third in the Southeastern Conference’s Eastern Division with their 10th straight home victory. This also was their fourth straight SEC home win — a first in coach Kevin Stallings’ eight seasons. Takais Brown led Georgia with 14 points, Mike Mercer added 13 and Sundiata Gaines 12.
TENNESSEE 84 VANDERBILT 57
Feb. 10, 2007 — Knoxville, Tenn. — VU (16-8, 6-4), UT (17-7, 5-5)
POST-GAMERecap
‘DORES DROP ROAD GAME IN KNOXVILLE
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Wayne Chism scored 17 points, Chris Lofton added 16 and Tennessee defeated No. 23 Vanderbilt 84-57 on Saturday at Thompson-Boling Arena. The Commodores (16-8, 6-4 Southeastern Conference) beat their in-state rivals in their first meeting on a last-second basket and hoped to sweep the Vols. But Tennessee (17-8, 5-5) controlled the game from start to finish and held Vanderbilt to a season-low in points. Shan Foster led Vanderbilt with 15 points and Ross Neltner added 13.
VANDERBILT 78 SOUTH CAROLINA 68
Feb. 14, 2007 — Nashville — VU (17-8, 7-4), USC (12-12, 2-9)

POST-GAMERecap  |  Quotes
BYARS’ CAREER NIGHT LIFTS ‘DORES, 78-68
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Vanderbilt’s Derrick Byars scored a career-high 32 points on 11-of-15 shooting in a 78-68 win over South Carolina on Wednesday night. Vanderbilt (17-8, 7-4 Southeastern Conference) was 11-of-24 from 3-point range and had three other scorers in double figures — Shan Foster and Alex Gordon with 14 each, and Dan Cage with 11. Byars carried a slow-starting Vanderbilt offense with 19 first-half points, 12 of those in a 30-13 Commodore run that gave Vandy a 34-25 lead. Tre’ Kelley had 21 points, Sheldon 18 and Archie 15 to lead the Gamecocks.
VANDERBILT 83 FLORIDA 70
Feb. 17, 2007 — Nashville, Tenn. — VU (18-8, 8-4), UF (24-3, 11-1)
POST-GAMERecap  |  Quotes
GIANT KILLERS! ‘DORES CHOP DOWN NO. 1 GATORS, 83-70
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Derrick Byars and Shan Foster each scored 24 points, and Vanderbilt snapped the nation’s longest winning streak by upsetting the Gators 83-70 after they finally fell into a hole they couldn’t dig themselves out of Saturday. “This is one for the ages,” Byars said. “Twenty years from now, I’ll be able to tell my little kids this. This is special. You can’t explain it.” Florida (24-3, 11-1) had won 17 straight games and needed a victory to clinch the overall league title. But Vanderbilt (18-8, 8-4) has been one of the country’s best against ranked opponents this season. Students poured onto the court at Memorial Gym after the Commodores pulled off their first victory over a top-ranked team since Jan. 13, 1993, when they beat then-No. 1 Kentucky, and their sixth victory over a ranked team this season.
MISS ST 83 VANDERBILT 70 
Feb. 21, 2007 — Starkville — VU (18-9, 8-5), MSU (16-10, 7-6)
POST-GAMERecap  |  Quotes
BULLDOGS TOP COMMODORES, 83-70
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) -Jamont Gordon recorded his first career triple-double – and the second in school history – with 15 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists as Mississippi State snapped a 13-game losing streak against ranked opponents Wednesday night with an 83-70 win over No. 17 Vanderbilt. Charles Rhodes had 23 points, including five crowd-rousing dunks, Dietric Slater added 18 points for the Bulldogs and Reginald Delk had 13. Mississippi State held Derrick Byars, the reigning SEC Player of the Week and the SEC’s No. 2 scorer during conference play with 19.7 points per game, to seven points. Dan Cage led the team with 12.
VANDERBILT 67 KENTUCKY 65
Feb. 25, 2007 — Nashville — VU (19-9, 9-5), UK (19-9, 8-6)

POST-GAMERecap | Quotes
BYARS’ BUCKET LIFTS VU TO FOURTH STRAIGHT WIN OVER UK
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Derrick Byars has been building his case for Southeastern Conference player of the year throughout league play. His performance against Kentucky may boost him above the pack. Byars hit the first of two free throws, got the rebound and hit an 8-foot jumper that gave Vanderbilt (No. 21 ESPN/USA Today; No. 17 AP) its first lead, and the Commodores held off Kentucky for a 67-65 victory Sunday. With the victory, the Commodores moved into sole possession of second place and hold the tiebreaker over the Wildcats for the Eastern Division’s No. 2 seed for the SEC tournament by virtue of a season sweep. Byars finished with 26 points, and Shan Foster added 21 as the Commodores (19-9, 9-5) erased a 10-point second-half deficit. They didn’t lead until Byars went to the free-throw line with 29 seconds left. Bobby Perry led Kentucky with 18 points, and Jodie Meeks added 15 as the Wildcats outshot Vanderbilt 58 percent to 41 percent. But the Commodores scored 20 points off Kentucky’s 22 turnovers.
VANDERBILT 99 SOUTH CAROLINA 90
Feb. 28, 2007 — Columbia — VU (20-9, 10-5), USC (14-14, 4-11)

POST-GAMERecap
ARKANSAS 82 VANDERBILT 67
Mar. 3, 2007 — Nashville — VU (20-10, 10-6), ARK (18-12, 7-9)
POST-GAMERecap