Nov. 26, 2010
The Vanderbilt Commodores play their second game of a four-game homestand when they host Appalachian State Saturday afternoon at Memorial Gym. The game tips off at 1 p.m. CT and can be heard on the Vanderbilt Sports Network from IMG College and vucommodores.com. There will be no television.
Busy Day For Vanderbilt Athletics
The Commodores and Mountaineers kick off a busy day on campus for Vanderbilt athletics. Following the ‘Dores hoops game at 1 p.m., the football team will take on Wake Forest at 6:30 p.m. at Vanderbilt Stadium. Please click here for important parking information.
Vanderbilt-Appalachian State series
Series Info: Vanderbilt leads the all-time series, 2-1. The Commodores lead 2-0 in games at Memorial Gym; ASU leads 1-0 at neutral sites.
Last Meeting: Appalachian State knocked off the Commdores, 87-79, in the finals of the 2006 San Juan Shootout.
Head Coaches: Kevin Stallings is in his 12th year at Vanderbilt (217-138) and his 18th overall (340-201). Jason Capel is in his first season at Appalachian State (2-1) and overall.
Radio: Vanderbilt Sports Network from IMG College (WRQQ – 97.1 FM); vucommodores.com
Play-by-Play: Joe Fisher (13th year); Color: Tim Thompson (10th year)
Click here for Live Stats, Webcast, and Twitter Feed
Vanderbilt-Grambling State Tidbits
– The Commodores grabbed a season-best 25 offensive rebounds, breaking the previous mark of 15 set against West Virginia on November 19, 2010.
– Vanerbilt’s 65 rebounds are the most in the Stallings era, breaking the previous high of 57 set against Manhattan on December 30, 2009.
– Vanderbilt scored 52 second-half points, the most since putting up 52 against Ole Miss in an 82-78 victory on February 18, 2010.
– The Commodores held the Tigers to only 21 points in the second half, matching the season-low set against Nebraska on November 18, 2010.
– Vanderbilt attempted 29 three-point shots and made ten, both season-highs.
– The 66 field-goal attempts were the most since the Commodores shot 73 times against Manhattan on December 30, 2009.
– For the second time this season, four Vanderbilt players scored in double digits.
– For the first time this season, two Commodores recorded double-digit rebounds.
– Festus Ezeli’s 13 rebounds are tied for a ninth-best single-game total in the Stallings Era (since 1999).
– Vanderbilt trailed for most of the first half, but closed the half with a 16-7 run to lead at the break, 40-38.
Player notes:
– Festus Ezeli’s nine offensive rebounds are a career-high and the most by a Commodore this season.
– Ezeli grabbed 13 rebounds, a career-high and season-high for any player on the team.
– Ezeli recorded his first double-double of his career with 11 points and 13 rebounds, and set career-high marks in free throw attempts and makes with ten and seven, respectively.
– Lance Goulbourne had a career-high 12 rebounds, breaking his previous mark of nine set against LSU on February 13, 2010.
– Andre Walker had a career-high four steals.
– Steve Tchiengang had a career-high 12 points, breaking his previous best of nine.
– Kyle Fuller recorded a career-high three assists, breaking his previous best of two set against West Virginia and Presbyterian.
– Joe Duffy recorded a career-high nine points.
About Appalachian State
The Mountaineers enter the game with a 2-1 record with wins over Tulsa and Montreat and a close loss to Mississippi State in Starkville. ASU is led by SoCon preseason player of the year Donald Sims, one of the nation’s premier perimeter players. The senior from Gaffney, S.C., averages 26.3 points per game and dropped 40 points against Miss. State. Junior guard Omar Carter also averages double figures with 20.0 points per game. Sophomore forward Nathan Healy leads Appalachian State on the glass with 5.7 rebounds per game.
Stallings Versus Appalachian State
Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings is 2-1 in three career meetings as the Vanderbilt head coach against the Mountaineers. The lone loss came in the 2006-07 campaign in the finals of the 2006 San Juan Shootout.
Stallings In Non-Conference Play
Entering his 12th season at the helm of the Commodores, Kevin Stallings is 133-46 in non-conference games and an astounding 97-8 in home non-conference games.
Vanderbilt Vs. The SoCon
Vanderbilt is 40-6 all-time in games against the current members of the Southern Conference.
Individual Game Tickets Available
Although the Commodores are very close to selling out season tickets for the 2010-11 season, there are a few individual game tickets to the Appalachian State game in the Vanderbilt student section, since they are on Thanksgiving break. Tickets are $17 and can be purchased at the McGugin Center Ticket Office, the Memorial Gym ticket office 90 minutes before tip-off, calling 615-322-GOLD or visiting vucommodores.com.