NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Commodores won their fifth straight game with an 84-55 win over Saint Francis Wednesday afternoon at Memorial Gym, behind a 17-point performance from junior guard Jermaine Beal.
Beal made 7-of-10 shots from the floor and made three 3-pointers in the game, his fourth consecutive three 3-point affair.
The ‘Dores never trailed in the game and scored their highest point total of the 2008-09 season en route to the 29-point victory. Vanderbilt shot 55.6 percent from the field, its second highest percentage of the season, and limited Saint Francis to only 37.7 percent from the floor, the 11th VU opponent to fail to crack the 40 percent barrier.
Vanderbilt also only committed 10 turnovers in the game, its second straight contest with 10 or fewer turnovers. Rebounding was also a strength. The ‘Dores outrebounded the Red Flash 37-21. VU’s record when outrebounding its opponents moved to 10-0 with the victory Wednesday.
Beal led the way for Vanderbilt with 17 points, while Brad Tinsley added 15points, Jeffery Taylor scored 13, and Lance Goulbourne added 10. The Commodores were without the services of sophomore big man A.J. Ogilvy, who missed the game with a foot injury. Goulbourne led all players with eight rebounds on the day.
Saint Francis was led by Grant Suprenant, who scored 11 points, and Cale Nelson, who added 10.
Vanderbilt returns to action this Saturday for a game with Massachusetts in Amherst, Mass. The game is set for a 4 p.m. CT start, and will be televised by CBS College Sports.
