March 10, 2017
By Zac Ellis
VUCommodores.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt had beaten Florida twice already entering Friday’s SEC Tournament quarterfinal matchup with the Gators. But for the Commodores, in this case, good things came in threes.
No. 7 seed Vanderbilt used strong defense and a stellar overtime period to beat No. 2 seed Florida, 72-62, for the third time this season. With the win, the ‘Dores punched their ticket to the SEC Tournament semifinals on Saturday.
Let’s clean the glass from Vanderbilt’s win:
THE SKINNY: Florida was the more aggressive team to open the game, and it took Vanderbilt by surprise. The Gators led by as many as six points early as the ‘Dores struggled to find an offensive rhythm. But Vanderbilt controlled the final 10 minutes of the first half and took a 33-28 lead into intermission. The Commodores built on that lead in the second half, but a late 8-0 run by Florida tied things up, 57-57, with 1:42 to play.
Vanderbilt trailed by one, 58-57, with nine seconds to play in regulation when Jeff Roberson hit one of two free throws to tie it up. Florida then missed two contested layups to send the game to overtime. But that’s when Vanderbilt took charge, hitting all five of its shots in the final five minutes and limiting Florida to a single field goal during that stretch.
TURNING POINT: Overtime. Vanderbilt was utterly dominant in the extra period, beginning overtime on a 7-0 run to deflate Florida’s momentum. The Gators weren’t able to muster any momentum, hitting 1-6 field goals after regulation. The Commodores, meanwhile, went 5-of-5 in the extra period and won overtime, 14-4.
IMPACT PLAYER: Riley LaChance. The junior guard was a difference-maker from the get-go for the Commodores. He finished with a game-high 18 points on 6-12 shooting, including 4-of-7 on 3-pointers. LaChance drilled a dagger of a trey from the top of the key with 2:19 left in overtime, effectively breaking the back of Florida’s rally hopes.
STARTLING STAT: 100 – Vanderbilt’s shooting percentage in overtime. The Commodores knocked down all five of their shots in the extra period and limited Florida to 1-6 from the floor in overtime. That performance broke open – and ultimately decided – an otherwise tight game.
WHAT IT MEANS: The Commodores beat Florida for the third time this season and clinch their first trip to the SEC Tournament semifinals since 2013, and their 14th semifinal appearance overall.
QUOTABLE: “I feel like our composure doesn’t switch. We all have the same focus. It’s really come down to getting stops on defense, and at the beginning of the year we didn’t get those stops.” –Vanderbilt senior center Luke Kornet
WHAT’S NEXT: Vanderbilt faces the winner of No. 6 seed Ole Miss and No. 3 seed Arkansas in the SEC semifinals on Saturday. The game tips off 25 minutes after the conclusion of the day’s first game, which begins at noon CT.