Jan. 23, 2009
TV: CBS | Radio: 104.5 FM | XM: Channel 199
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The Vanderbilt Commodores will take on SEC East foe and 24th ranked Florida this Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at Memorial Gym. The game will tip at 12:30 p.m., and can be heard on the Vanderbilt-ISP Radio Network and vucommodores.com, with Joe Fisher and Tim Thompson on the call. The game will be televised by CBS Sports.
Vanderbilt and Florida will meet for the 116th time, with the Commodores owning a 61-54 advantage in the series. Vanderbilt leads the series 39-12 in Nashville, and has won the last two games against the Gators at Memorial Gym. VU defeated Florida, 61-58, on February 16, 2008, and knocked off the #1 ranked Gators on February 17, 2007, 83-70. Head coach Kevin Stallings is 5-14 all-time against Florida, and is 4-5 all-time against the Gators at Memorial Gym.
Vanderbilt dropped a 76-63 decision to instate rival Tennessee in a nationally televised affair on January 20. Tennessee never trailed in the game, and limited the Commodores to 20 first half points, its lowest total for a half all season, and 34.5% from the floor. George Drake came off of the bench to lead the Commodores with 16 points, while freshman guard Brad Tinsley was the only other Vanderbilt player in double figures with 10 points on the night. Sophomore center A.J. Ogilvy scored only seven points, the first time all season and only the third time in his career he has failed to score in double figures. The Commodores’ starting five were a combined 6-for-32 in the game against Tennessee.
Ogilvy leads all Vanderbilt scorers on the 2008-09 season, averaging 15.8 points per contest. Freshman guard Jeffery Taylor adds 12.2 points per game, junior point guard Jermaine Beal averages 11.9 points, and freshman guard Brad Tinsley chips in 10.2 points per contest. Ogilvy leads all VU players on the glass with 6.8 rebounds per game.
Florida enters the game with a 16-3 overall record and a 3-1 record in SEC play after Wednesday’s 70-69 loss at South Carolina. The Gators had won 10 consecutive games before the loss to the Gamecocks on January 21. Florida guard Nick Calathes leads all Florida scorers at 17.8 points per game and leads all players in the SEC in assists with 6.6 per game. Forward Alex Tyus is next in scoring for Florida at 12.2 points per game; Tyus also leads the Gators on the glass with 6.6 rebounds per game.
The Gators, ranked 24th in the latest AP poll, will be the first ranked opponent for the Commodores this season.