Feb. 18, 2017
By Zac Ellis
VUCommodores.com
On campus in Nashville – Vanderbilt kept its name in the postseason discussion with a statement win in the SEC on Saturday. The Commodores (14-13, 7-7 SEC) used a strong stretch of defense in the second half to hold off No. 21 South Carolina (20-7, 10-4 SEC), 71-62, in front of a rowdy crowd at Memorial Gym during the university’s “Equality Weekend.”
Let’s clean the glass from Vanderbilt’s latest victory:
THE SKINNY: Vanderbilt slugged through an error-filled first half against South Carolina. The Commodores committed 11 turnovers against just nine made shots in the first 20 minutes and trailed the Gamecocks, 30-27, at halftime. But the tide turned for the ‘Dores in the second half when South Carolina went more than nine minutes without a field goal. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, scored 15 points during that stretch to take control.
TURNING POINT: With the ‘Dores holding a 59-58 lead late in the second half, their offense found sudden life. Key free throws by Jeff Roberson and Joe Toye, as well as a clutch trey by Riley LaChance that forced a South Carolina timeout, helped Vanderbilt cap a 9-0 run. The Commodores found themselves holding a 68-58 edge — its largest lead of the game to that point — with 2:05 to play.
IMPACT PLAYER: Riley LaChance. The junior guard headed into the halftime locker room on Saturday with zero points on 0-1 shooting. But LaChance remedied that performance in the second half, knocking down four of his eight shots – including 3-6 from 3-point land – to score 14 points on the night. LaChance also dished out four assists and hit all three of his free throws.
STARTLING STAT: 9:16 – game time without a South Carolina field goal. After Hassani Gravett hit a jumper to give the Gamecocks a 53-47 lead with 9:40 to play, they did not connect on a field goal until P.J. Dozier’s 3-pointer with 24 ticks left. By then, Vanderbilt had taken advantage of South Carolina’s offensive lull to build a 70-62 lead.
WHAT IT MEANS: Vanderbilt notched its second straight SEC home win and its fifth victory in seven games. The Commodores’ win over South Carolina was also their first over a ranked opponent at Memorial Gym this season.
QUOTABLE: “We know we have a really good strength of schedule. We know we needed to get this one to at least have a little bit of a chance. So, we’re clawing our way back into the conversation.” –Vanderbilt guard Riley LaChance on the Commodores’ NCAA tournament hopes
WHAT’S NEXT: The Commodores hit the road to take on rival Tennessee on Wednesday, Feb. 22. The game tips off in Knoxville at 5:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network.
