NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Derrick Byars had 19 points and nine rebounds to help Vanderbilt overcome cold shooting and defeat cross-town Lipscomb 59-50 on Thursday night.
Vanderbilt (4-3) and Lipscomb (6-3) were meeting for the first time since 1955.
The Commodores shot just 36.5 percent for the game, but outscored the Bisons 17-5 from the free throw line.
Vanderbilt led most of the first half, and went up 17-11 on Shan Foster’s dunk with 9:44 left in the half. From there, the Commodores went cold, hitting just two of their next 16 shots to end the half.
Meanwhile, the Bisons went on a 16-4 run to end the half, and built a second-half lead of 30-23 when Eddie Ard nailed a 3-pointer from the left corner at the 18:14 mark.
Vanderbilt finally made its move with 9:21 left when George Drake hit a 3-pointer from the left corner, snapping a string of 12 consecutive Vandy misses behind the arc and tying it at 38.
Derrick Byars followed with another 3 for the lead, and Williams answered with a layup.
The Commodores went on an 8-0 run to put the game away for good. Ross Neltner hit a field goal, Byars added a 3, Neltner added two foul shots, and Drake another for a 49-40 lead.
Vanderbilt built the lead to 57-43 with 1:22 remaining, and Lipscomb never got closer than the final margin.
Neltner added 13 points for Vanderbilt, and Ard (14) and Trey Williams (10) had double figures for Lipscomb.
The Commodores play their third game in five days Saturday when Georgia Tech visits for a 4 p.m. tip off.
