Commodores Down Central Michigan Behind Hot-Shooting Night

Commodores Down Central Michigan Behind Hot-Shooting Night

12/21/2004

Dan Cage

Commodores Down Central Michigan Behind Hot-Shooting Night

NASHVILLE (AP) – Dan Cage scored a career-high 18 points and Vanderbilt used a strong defensive effort to beat Central Michigan on Monday night, 86-54.

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The Commodores (6-4) held Central Michigan to a season-low 32 percent shooting.

Mario Moore had 12 points and six assists while Corey Smith had 12 points and seven rebounds for Vanderbilt, which shot a season-high 60 percent from the field. Freshman Alex Gordon tallied 13 points, including four 3-pointers. Vanderbilt hit a season-high 15 3-pointers.

Kevin Nelson scored 15 points for Central Michigan (4-4), which lost its 17th-straight road game dating back to last season. The Chippewas entered the game averaging 73.1 points per game.

Vanderbilt led 44-15 at halftime, but Central Michigan hit nine of its first 10 shots in the second half en route to a 24-5 run that trimmed the Vanderbilt lead to 49-39 with 13:45 to play. The Commodores responded with a 21-0 run, including 10 points from Cage, to take a 70-39 lead.

Vanderbilt bolted out to an 11-1 lead as Central Michigan missed its first 12 shots from the field. Tom Pantlind broke the drought for Central Michigan with 10:55 remaining in the first half. The Chippewas entered halftime shooting 4-for-28 from the field (14.3 percent). It was the second fewest points allowed in a half during coach Kevin Stallings six years at Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt improved to 6-0 at home and extended its non-conference home winning streak to 19. The Commodores have not had a game decided by less than 10 points this season.