NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Despite cutting No. 14 Mississippi State’s lead to just five in the final five minutes, Vanderbilt dropped its SEC home opener in a 76-64 decision Tuesday night at Memorial Gymnasium.
Mississippi State (14-1, 2-0 SEC) had three score in double figures behind RJ Melendez’s 19 points and game-high-tying seven rebounds. Cameron Matthews posted 16 points while Claudell Harris Jr. added 13 points for the Bulldogs.
Vanderbilt (13-2, 1-1 SEC) was led by AJ Hoggard’s 18 points, 13 of which came in the second half to mark consecutive games with 13-plus points in the second frame for the graduate transfer. Grant Huffman posted a season-high 12 points while Tyler Nickel added 10. The Dores were led on the glass by Devin McGlockton and Jaylen Carey, who grabbed six each.
The Dores’ bench outscored the Bulldogs 18-11, nine of which came from freshman Tyler Tanner.
The Commodores return to action on Saturday visiting Missouri in a 2:30 p.m. tipoff. The game can be seen on SEC Network and heard on 102.5 The Game.
