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.
Toledo’s attempt to send the game into a second overtime failed when an intentionally missed free throw by Justin Ingram was grabbed by Neltner with 3.6 seconds left.
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.
The Commodores trailed 57-49 with 13:34 left in regulation, but slowly narrowed the margin until they took a 70-69 lead with 5:22 left on a bucket by Neltner.
The teams tied four times in the final 3:10 of regulation. Toledo went ahead 84-82 with 52.3 seconds left on a jumper by Howell. Byars sent the game into overtime by making a pair of free throws with 33.3 seconds remaining.
The Rockets appeared to grab control early in the overtime period when Tyrone Kent made two free throws to give Toledo a five-point lead. The Rockets did not score another basket.
Vanderbilt plays host to East Tennessee State Tuesday at 8 p.m. CT.
