MBB Returns Home To Host South Alabama

Nov. 28, 2007

GAME AT A GLANCE

Last Game: Jermaine Beal was one of three Commodores selected to the South Padre Invitational all-tournament team after the Commodores defeated Bradley 95-86 in Saturday’s final. Recap SOUTH ALABAMA (4-2) AT VANDERBILT (5-0) Thursday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. CT Memorial Gym (14,316) Nashville, Tenn. TELEVISION: CSS Play-by-Play: Willy Daunic Color: Drew Maddux RADIO: 104.5 the Zone Play-by-Play: Joe Fisher; Color: Tim Thompson SIRIUS: None SERIES INFORMATION This is the first career meeting between the two schools. LAST MEETING First career meeting. COACHES Kevin Stallings is in his ninth year at Vanderbilt (149-108) and his 15th overall (272-171). Ronnie Arrow is in his 7th year – first year in 2nd stint with school – (118-95) with South Alabama and 17th overall (252-186). SOUTH ALABAMA TIDBIT Thursday marks the second of three meetings for South Alabama with Southeastern Conference members this season. The Jaguars lost 81-78 at Ole Miss on Nov. 13. In that game, USA made a fierce comeback to cut a 22-point deficit to only three in the final seconds. South Alabama will also host Mississippi State on Dec. 15. Against current members of the SEC, the Jaguars hold an 8-31 all-time record.

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View Game Notes | Read South Alabama’s Preview

Upcoming Home Games, Call 322-GOLD for Tickets:
Thursday, Nov. 29, vs. South Alabama at 7 p.m. CT
Saturday, Dec. 1, vs. Georgia Tech at 12 p.m. CT
Wednesday, Dec. 5, vs. Wake Forest at 7 p.m. CT

NASHVILLE – The 5-0 Vanderbilt Commodores return home to Memorial Gym for a non-conference tilt with the South Alabama Jaguars, who enter the game with a 4-2 record, Thursday night at 7 p.m. The game will be televised by Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast.

VU returns to Nashville after a successful trip to South Padre Island, Texas, where the Commodores knocked off Utah State and Bradley to capture the South Padre Island Invitational on November 23 and 24. Senior wing Shan Foster was named the tournament’s MVP, while freshman A.J. Ogilvy and sophomore guard Jermaine Beal, a DeSoto, Texas native, made the All-Tournament team. Vanderbilt last won a regular season tournament in November of 2000, when the Commodores won the America’s Youth Classic, which was held at Memorial Gym. VU defeated South Carolina State, Western Carolina, and St. Joseph’s that year.

Vanderbilt had its free throw shooting stroke working in the key statistic of the championship game, knocking down 28 of 31 shots, a 90.3% clip. Also, the Commodores attempted and made 22 more free throws than the Braves. It was VU’s best percentage of the season, and the first time the Commodores were 90% or better from the free throw line since January 17, 2007, when Vanderbilt was 9-of-10 at the free throw line. Vanderbilt’s 28 made free throws against the Braves was also the most for a Commodore squad since December 30, 2000, when VU made 29 in a 97-74 loss at Boston College. Additionally, Vanderbilt has made more free throws (91) this season than its opponents have attempted (84), and goes to the line an average of 25.2 times a game.

The Commodores also continued its hot shooting from the floor, making 51.7% of its shots for the game.

This will be the first meeting between Vanderbilt and South Alabama in the history of the two schools. Commodore head coach Kevin Stallings has also never faced the Jaguars. Vanderbilt owns a 49-14 career record against the Sun Belt Conference.

South Alabama enters Thursday’s contest with a 4-2 record after defeating Chattanooga, 84-67, in Anaheim, Calif., at the Anaheim Classic. The Jaguars went 2-1 at the Anaheim Classic, defeating Chattanooga and San Diego, and losing to Miami (Ohio).

Demetric Bennett, a transfer from SMU, leads the Jaguars in scoring, averaging 19.3 points per game. DeAndre Coleman leads South Alabama on the glass, averaging 8.3 rebounds per game. In an interesting note, the starting five against Chattanooga have all transferred to USA from a four-year college.

Head coach Ronnie Arrow is in his first season of his second go around with the Jaguars. Arrow is 118-95 in eight years with South Alabama, and 252-186 in 17 years overall as a head coach.

Ten out of the next 11 games for Vanderbilt will be in the friendly confines of Memorial Gymnasium, with the only road game coming on December 12 at Big East member DePaul. Other than the matchup with the Blue Demons, Vanderbilt does not hit the road again until SEC play, when the Commodores travel to Kentucky on January 12.

Vanderbilt will appear on CSS for the second time this season Thursday night against South Alabama, and will mark the beginning of six consecutive games in which VU will be on television.

Single game tickets are available for $15, and season tickets are still available for as low as $75. There are less than 500 season tickets remaining for the 2007-08 season.

Tip-time is set for 7 p.m. from Memorial Gym.

SOUTH ALABAMA’S PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

# Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG APG Hometown 1 DeAndre Coleman F 6’7 233 Jr. 5.8 8.3 2.0 Stone Mtn., Ga. 21 Brandon Davis G 6’6 205 Jr. 10.3 4.7 1.0 Birmingham, Ala. 22 B.J. Ford G 6’0 165 Jr. 5.7 0.7 0.8 Grand Rapids, Mich. 5 Daon Merritt G 5’8 193 Sr. 11.3 3.2 4.7 Jamaica, N.Y. 10 Demetric Bennett G 6’4 205 Sr. 19.3 6.0 2.5 Albany, Ga.