Feb. 26, 2010
Live Webcast and Live Stats | 
Twitter Updates | 
Vanderbilt Notes | Arkansas Notes
TV: SEC Network | Radio: 104.5 FM | XM: 200 Sirius: 218
The Commodores will play their second game in less than two days when Vanderbilt travels to Arkansas to take on the Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena on Saturday afternoon. Tip off is set for 12:47 p.m. CT, and the game can be seen live on the SEC Network, ESPN360.com, and ESPN Full Court. The radio call can be heard on the Vanderbilt-ISP Radio Network and vucommodores.com, with Joe Fisher and Tim Thompson courtside with all of the action.
Vanderbilt needed overtime and a career-high 28 points from senior point guard Jermaine Beal to escape with a 96-94 win over Georgia on Thursday night at Memorial Gym. The Commodores trailed by six with 54 seconds to play, but rallied to force overtime and then hung on to get the victory. It was Vanderbilt’s first overtime game of the year, and its first since a loss at Alabama on March 8, 2008. It was also VU’s fourth consecutive overtime win at Memorial Gym, and the Commodores moved to 8-0 all-time in overtime contests with Georgia.
The Commodores, who lead the SEC in free throws made and attempted, once again used the charity stripe to their advantage against the Bulldogs. VU was 35-of-39 overall from the free throw line Thursday night and 12-for-12 in the overtime session. Vanderbilt actually made its last 20 from the charity stripe for the game.
Besides Beal’s 28-point performance, the Commodores also got a career-best effort from sophomore forward Andre Walker, who scored 17 point in 38 minutes, both new career highs. Walker also made his only three-pointer of the season late in regulation to cut the Bulldog lead to two with 27 seconds to go. After Georgia’s Dustin Ware missed two free throws, junior center A.J. Ogilvy put back a Beal miss to tie the game at 77. The Commodores then survived a last-second opportunity by the Bulldogs to win the game in regulation.
Freshman John Jenkins added 14 points, and sophomore forward Jeffery Taylor scored 11 points in the Commodore win.
Beal leads a very balanced Commodore offensive attack with 14.9 points per game. Taylor is next at 14.1 points per game, with Ogilvy (13.8) and Jenkins (10.2) also averaging double figures.
Arkansas leads the all-time series, 15-8, and has won six in a row at home against the Commodores. The Razorbacks are 8-1 all-time against Vanderbilt at home since the series began in the 1963-64 season.
Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings is 3-9 all-time against Arkansas, and has never won in Fayetteville (0-5). It is the only place in the SEC Stallings has never won.
Arkansas enters the game with a 14-14 overall record, and a 7-6 mark in SEC play. The Razorbacks are currently in second place in the SEC West behind Mississippi State.
Courtney Fortson leads the Razorbacks in scoring at 19.3 points per game. Rotnei Clarke is next at 15.9 points per game, while Marshawn Powell (15.1) and Mike Washington (12.4) also average double figures. Powell leads the team in rebounding with 6.6 rebounds per game.