NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Jeffery Taylor scored 14 points to lead Vanderbilt to a 73-53 win over Middle Tennessee on Monday night.
It was the fifth straight victory for the Commodores (11-3) and was also head coach Kevin Stallings’ 200th victory at Vanderbilt. Stallings, who is 200-131 in his 11th season, trails Roy Skinner (278) for most wins in school history.
Middle Tennessee (7-7) cut the lead to 46-36 with 17:15 to go. But Vanderbilt responded with an 11-2 run that gave the Commodores a 57-38 lead with 11:41 left. The Blue Raiders never got closer than 12 points after that, snapping their four-game winning streak.
John Jenkins scored 13 points, Jermaine Beal had 11 and Festus Ezeli and A.J. Ogilvy each added 10 for Vanderbilt, which begins Southeastern Conference play Saturday at home against Florida.
Desmond Yates scored 14 points and James Washington had 13 for Middle Tennessee.
