NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Freshman reserve John Jenkins scored a career-high 17 points and Vanderbilt routed Mercer 99-59 on Monday night.
Thirteen players scored for the Commodores (8-3), who allowed just 25 points in the first half for the second straight game.
An 18-2 run early in the first half gave Vanderbilt a 29-9 lead with 9:43 left in the half. The Commodores made seven straight shots during the five-minute stretch, which was fueled by six different scorers. It also didn’t hurt that Mercer (4-6) opened the game shooting 2-for-13 from the field.
Jermaine Beal scored 15 points, Brad Tinsley added a season-high 14, Jeffery Taylor had 13 and A.J. Ogilvy had 11 for Vanderbilt.
Brandon Moore had 14, and Jeff Smith and James Florence each scored 10 for Mercer. For Florence, it was the 31st straight game with at least 10 points — currently tied for the second longest streak in the nation.
