NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — John Jenkins scored 21 points, hitting 5 of 10 from 3-point range, to lead Vanderbilt to an 82-62 win over Western Kentucky on Wednesday night.
Jenkins, who has led the Commodores (6-1) in scoring the past six games, hit a 3-pointer on the right wing to give Vanderbilt a 22-10 lead and the Hilltoppers (3-4) never got within single digits again.
Festus Ezeli added 14 points for the Commodores. The 6-foot-11 junior from Nigeria, who stood a good 5 inches taller than anyone in the Western Kentucky starting lineup, hit all seven of his field-goal attempts and blocked three shots.
Freshman Rod Odom made all three of his 3-point attempts for Vanderbilt.
Juan Pattillo led Western Kentucky with 18 points and Sergio Kerusch and Caden Dickerson each added 12.
Vanderbilt took a 35-17 lead into halftime. The Commodores shot 50 percent from 3-point range (6 of 12), including three consecutive 3s as part of an 11-0 run that pushed their lead to 35-13.
Jenkins had eight points at the break. Odom had six on the strength of two 3-pointers and Ezeli had six.
Western Kentucky committed 16 turnovers in the first half that led to 17 points the other way.
Vanderbilt didn’t take great care of the ball in a sloppy first half either, turning it over 12 times. But the Hilltoppers couldn’t take advantage, shooting just 8 of 28 (28.6 percent) and making 1 of 9 3 pointers.
