Nov. 15, 2008
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — After defeating Alabama-Huntsville, 84-65, in their only exhibition game of the year, the Commodores’ regular season begins in earnest when Morehead State comes to Memorial Gym for a contest on Sunday. Tip time is set for 4 p.m., with Joe Fisher and Tim Thompson calling the action on the Commodore Radio Network. There will be no television for Sunday’s game.
Vanderbilt played all 14 players on its roster Sunday in the 84-65 win against the Chargers at Memorial Gym and were led by preseason, first-team All-SEC selection A.J. Ogilvy, who scored 25 points on 9-of-10 shooting and a 7-for-7 mark from the free-throw line.
The Commodores shot 55.8 percent from the floor against UAH and were 19-of-27 (70.4 percent) from the charity stripe on the day. Freshmen Jeffery Taylor and Steve Tchiengang each had solid debuts, scoring 16 and 11 points, respectively. Taylor was 7-of-8 from the field, while Tchiengang was a perfect 5-for-5.
Morehead State, a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, dropped a 56-54 decision at Louisana-Monroe Friday night in its season opener. In 2007-08, the Eagles posted a 15-15 overall record and a 12-8 conference mark. MSU returns its three frontcourt starters, forwards Leon Buchanan and Maze Stallworth and center Kenneth Faried, but must replace two starting guards, point guard Nikola Stojakovic and wing guard Jamyron Steward, both of whom ended their collegiate eligibility and earned their bachelor’s degrees in the spring.
The Commodores hit the floor for head coach Kevin Stallings’ 10th season and the university’s 109th campaign against Morehead State. Vanderbilt is 52-7 all-time against the Ohio Valley Conference, and 3-0 all-time against Sunday’s opponent.
VU head coach Kevin Stallings is 15-0 all-time against the OVC and has a 1-0 record against Morehead State. The Commodores take on one more OVC opponents later this year, Tennessee Tech on Dec. 20.
The 2008-09 edition of Vanderbilt basketball will feature eight letterwinners returning from the 2007-08 team, which finished 26-8, and seven talented newcomers, five true freshmen and two redshirt freshmen. Ogilvy, the school’s all-time leading freshman scorer, and junior point guard Jermaine Beal, who was third in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio last season, highlight the returnees. This year’s true-freshmen class is the highest rated group that has ever suited up for the Black and Gold.
Sunday’s matchup is the first game of the Cancun Challenge for both teams. The Commodores will host the Eagles on Sunday and Central Arkansas on Nov. 26, and then travel to Cancun, Mexico, to play Drake on Nov. 29 and either New Mexico or VCU on Nov. 30.