Aug. 13, 2017
The USVI National Team rallied late behind a game-high 20 points from Cuthbert Victor to escape with an 81-78 victory over Vanderbilt in a summer exhibition game in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, the Commodores’ first of four on their foreign tour of the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Commodores were led by senior Matthew Fisher-Davis, who scored 15 points, and junior guard Larry Austin, Jr., who added 14 points.
The Commodores led for most of the game until the fourth quarter, where the USVI outscored the Commodores, 24-15. Vanderbilt led 69-60 with 6:51 to go in the game, but USVI responded with a 14-0 run to take a 74-69 lead.
Vanderbilt did not go down quietly and responded to tied the game on a Joe Toye dunk at 78 with eight seconds to play, but former Florida standout Walter Hodge and the USVI team responded on the next possession, burying a three-point basket from the top of the key with 2.2 seconds to go. After a timeout, Vanderbilt advanced the ball to half court according to FIBA rules, and Fisher-Davis’ attempt to tie the game as time expired rattled out.
Standout Vanderbilt perfomers
Fisher-Davis displayed his knockdown shooting stroke that Commodore fans are used to seeing and looks to be in midseason form with his 15 point-performance. Austin, Jr., had four assists and only one turnover to go along with his 14 points.
Freshman Maxwell Evans poured in nine points in very quick fashion in the first half and showed he can score in bunches. Freshman Saben Lee and senior Jeff Roberson each scored seven points, and sophomore Clevon Brown paced the team in rebounding with nine rebounds.
Key stretch
USVI’s Victor sparked the 14-0 run in the fourth quarter with back to back threes, and then Hodge scored the team’s last seven points to push USVI to victory, including the big game-winning shot at the end of the game.
Vanderbilt held the largest lead of the game at 15 in the second quarter when they led, 40-25, on an Austin layup. USVI didn’t have the lead in the game until the 4:09 mark of the fourth quarter.
Notes about game
- The Commodores played the game in Tim Duncan’s high school gym.
- Vanderbilt was the first collegiate team to play on St. Croix.
Trip to St. Croix
A quick stop at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal School, the high school home of Tim Duncan here in St Croix. #BTISummer pic.twitter.com/ScfNzDNnov
— Vandy MBB (@VandyMBB) August 13, 2017
The Commodores boarded a plane for a quick 15 minute flight to St. Croix from St. Thomas and arrived around 11 a.m. ET. We made a quick stop to check out where Tim Duncan went to high school, St. Dunstan’s Episcopal School, and then moved on to the Renaissance St. Croix Carambola for lunch and a quick swim in the Caribbean in what many of us described as the coolest beach we’ve ever been on. It was quite an afternoon in the 85 degree waters of St. Croix.
Unfortunately, pictures don’t really do it justice but we’ll try below.
