Jan. 21, 2011
Live Video, Live Stats, Twitter Updates | Video: Stallings Interview
The Vanderbilt Commodores take on their last non-conference opponent of the season when #22/21 St. Mary’s comes to Memorial Gym on Saturday. 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 for the game, but a live stream of the game can be found on vucommodores.com as a part of the All-Access multimedia package.
Series Info: The Commodores lead the overall series, 1-0.
Last Meeting: Vanderbilt defeated St. Mary’s, 72-70, on November 20, 2009, in Moraga, Calif., in the only other meeting between the two schools.
Head Coaches: Kevin Stallings is in his 12th year at Vanderbilt (226-141) and his 18th overall (348-204). Randy Bennett is in his 10th year at St. Mary’s (200-105) and 10th year 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)
TV: No TV; webcast at VUcommodores.com
About St. Mary’s
The Gaels enter Saturday’s contest ranked number 22 in the AP Poll and 21st in the ESPN/USA Today Poll and with a record of 17-2, with their only losses coming to teams currently in the top 10 (74-73 to #9 BYU in South Padre Island, Texas, 11/27; 69-55 at #6 San Diego State, 12/1).
Mickey McConnell leads all Gael players in scoring with 15.0 points per game – McConnell shoots 52.9% from the floor and 48.5% from three. Rob Jones (13.9), Matthew Dellavedova (12.8), and Mitchell Young (10.5) also average double figures.
The St. Mary’s Series
This will be the second career meeting in the series. The two teams met last year in Moraga on November 20, 2009, in a game the Commodores won, 72-70.
Stallings Versus St. Mary’s
Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings is 2-0 against St. Mary’s, and 1-0 against the Gaels (last year’s meeting in Moraga) as the Commodore head coach. Stallings also defeated St. Mary’s while he was the head coach at Illinois State.
Stallings In SEC Play
Entering his 12th season of SEC play at the helm of the Commodores, Kevin Stallings has an 86-94 record in SEC play. In 2009-10, Stallings posted his best SEC record as a coach with a 12-4 mark.
Stallings In Non-Conference Play
Kevin Stallings is 140-47 in non-conference games and an astounding 103-8 in home non-conference games.
Free Throws
The Commodores lead the SEC in field goal attempts per game in all games (26.4), and in SEC games only (28.8).
On the road in four games thus far, Vanderbilt has made more free throws than their opponents have attempted. In the four games, VU is 70-104 (.673), while opponents are 41-61 (.672).
VU Plays Quality Second Half Vs. Ole Miss
After struggling in the second half in its first three SEC games, the Commodoers turned the tables on the Rebels and came through after trailing at the half. Vanderbilt outscored Ole Miss, 45-32 in the second half, and outrebounded the Rebels, 24-13.
In the three league games prior to Wednesday’s contest, Vanderbilt was outscored 123-102, outrebounded 70-48 (37-15 on offensive glass), and opponents had attempted 49 more field goal attempts (116 to 67).
Commodores Vs. Ranked Teams
Vanderbilt will face its fourth ranked team of the 2010-11 season on Saturday when St. Mary’s comes calling. VU is 2-1 against ranked teams this season, and 1-0 in games played at Memorial Gym (Georgia). In the Stallings’ era, Vanderbilt is 28-48 and 19-17 in games played at Memorial Gym.
VU Wins 700 At Memorial Gym
VU has posted a 705-188 (.789) all-time record at the 59-year old facility. Memorial Gym is the oldest basketball building in use in the Southeastern Conference. Vanderbilt has won 20 consecutive non-conference games at Memorial, with its last loss coming against UIC on December 3, 2008.
Vanderbilt-Ole Miss Tidbits
The Commodores moved to 2-2 in SEC play with an 84-74 win over Ole Miss on Wednesday night at Memorial Gym. John Jenkins led five players in double-figures with 20 points in the win. Lance Goulbourne tallied his first career double-double with 14 points and tied a Stallings-era best with 16 rebounds.
– The Commodores move to 72-39 against Ole Miss and 47-5 when playing in Memorial Gym.
– Kevin Stallings improves his record against the Rebels to 9-4 and 5-1 when playing in Nashville.
– Five different Commodores scored in double-digits for the third time this season and the team moves to 3-0 when doing so.
– For the 11th straight game, Vanderbilt attempted more free-throws than its opponent dating back to the Western Kentucky game on December 1.
– This marked the first time Vanderbilt has scored 80 or more points since putting up 80 against Davidson on January 2.
– The 84 points are the most the Commodores have scored against an SEC opponent since scoring 89 against Arkansas on February 27, 2010.
– Vanderbilt moves to 3-0 when shooting 50% from the three-point line this season.
– For the third time in the Stallings era, a player recorded 16 rebounds. Lance Goulbourne joins Dawid Przybyszewski who did it against Toledo on November 19, 2004, and Anthony Williams who reached the mark against Western Kentucky on November 28, 2000.
– For the seventh time this season, the Commodores shot 50% or better from the field (13-for-26) in the first half and move to 6-1 when doing so.
– Vanderbilt trailed at the half for the first time this season against an SEC opponent.
– The 15 assists are the most Vanderbilt has had in an SEC game this season.
– Vanderbilt’s eight three-point field goals are the most in an SEC game since making nine against Georgia on March 1, 2010.
Player Notes vs. Ole Miss
– Lance Goulbourne recorded his first-career double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds.
– Goulbourne had a career-high 16 rebounds, topping his previous best of 14 set against South Carolina on January 8.
– Jeffery Taylor’s six assists matched a career-high set against Arkansas on March 8, 2009.
– Taylor scored in double-figures for the 59th time in his career.
– Jenkins has scored in double-figures in all 16 games he has played in this season.
– Tinsley has made an assist in 28 consecutive games, dating back to the Tennessee game on February 9 last season.
– Festus Ezeli’s 10 made free throws matched a career-high set against Belmont on December 4.