Feb. 12, 2011
Recap | Box Score | Quotes | AP Photos 
| Russell’s Photos
Vanderbilt 81, Kentucky 77
February 12, 2011 – Memorial Gymnasium – Nashville, Tenn.
Attendance: 14,316
Starting Lineup
– Vanderbilt started junior Brad Tinsley and sophomore John Jenkins at guard, juniors Jeffery Taylor and Lance Goulbourne at forward and junior Festus Ezeli at center.
– The Commodores move to 8-5 when stating this lineup.
– Taylor has now started 86 of his 87 career games.
– Tinsley made his 78th start, Ezeli his 34th, Jenkins his 29th and Goulbourne his 13th.
Postgame Notes:
– Vanderbilt moves to 44-133 against Kentucky and UK now holds a 49-25 record when playing in Nashville.
– Kevin Stallings has a 9-15 record against the Wildcats but owns a 7-5 advantage when playing in Memorial Gym.
– John Jenkins made a three-point basket early in the first half to extend Vanderbilt’s consecutive game streak with a three-pointer to 786 games.
– The four point margin of victory is the least against Kentucky since February 25, 2007, when the Commodores won 67-65.
– Vanderbilt has won six of its past eight meetings with Kentucky when playing in Memorial Gym.
– Vanderbilt’s 55% (11-for-20) shooting from beyond the arc matched a season-high previously set against South Carolina on February 5.
– The Commodores move to 6-0 when shooting 50% or better from three-point range.
– After making 20 free throws against Kentucky, Vanderbilt is now 11-2 when making 20 or more free throws.
– Jenkins’s 32 points marks the first 30-point game since A.J. Ogilvy scored 33 against LSU on March 4, 2009.
– This marked the first time a Commodore has scored 30 or more points against Kentucky since Mike Rhodes scored 34 on January 19, 1980.
– Vanderbilt’s 58.3% (7-for-12) shooting from beyond the arc in the first half is the highest three-point efficiency since shooting 71.4% (5-for-7) against Davidson on January 2.
– The seven three-pointers in the first half are the most the Commodores have had against an SEC opponent this season.
– For the third consecutive game, Vanderbilt shot 50% or better from three-point range in the first half.
First-half notes:
– Vanderbilt won the opening tipoff.
– Festus Ezeli hit a jumper inside the paint at the 17:28 mark to give Vanderbilt its first points of the game.
– John Jenkins made a basket from beyond the arc with 15:52 remaining in the half to keep the three-point streak alive.
– With the Commodores trailing by two, Festus Ezeli got open for a dunk to tie the game at 9 with 14:21 remaining.
– Steve Tchiengang hit a three-pointer at the 10:56 mark to record Vanderbilt’s first bench points.
– Vanderbilt took a 30-29 lead, its first of the game, at the 5:46 mark off a Rod Odom jumper.
– John Jenkins led the team with 14 points while Rod Odom had a team-high five rebounds.
– The bench accounted for 20 points.
– Lead changes: 5
– Ties: 4
– Largest lead: Vanderbilt 6, Kentucky 8
– Vanderbilt heads into the half leading 44-40.
Second-half notes:
– Brad Tinsley recorded the first three points of the half off of a layup and a free throw.
– John Jenkins grabbed a rebound and hit a three-pointer at the 14:57 mark to give the Commodores a 51-48 lead.
– With the game tied at 56 and 8:28 left on the clock, Festus Ezeli made a mid-range jumper to give the Commodores a two-point lead.
– Brat Tinsley made his first three-pointer of the game with 6:47 remaining and tied it up at 61.
– Lead Changes: 4
– Ties: 5
– Largest lead: Vanderbilt 7
Player notes:
– John Jenkins scored a career-high 32 points, topping his previous best of 27 set against West Virginia and South Carolina.
– Jenkins made a career-high 11 field goals, moving past his previous high of eight set against Appalachian State.
– Steve Tchiengang had a career-high 12 points against an SEC opponent, topping his previous high of 10 set against South Carolina on January 8, 2011.
– Rod Odom’s seven rebounds were a career-best against an SEC opponent, topping his previous high of six set against Tennessee on January 15, 2011.
– Brad Tinsley has made an assist in every game this season.
– Festus Ezei was perfect from the free throw line (4-for-4) for the fourth time this season.