No. 14 VU Rolls Past LSU, 92-76Highlights, Interviews, Quotes & Photos

COMMODORE POSTGAME COVERAGE

Neltner BALANCED SCORING For the second time this season and for the first time since Nov. 23 against Utah State, Vanderbilt had five players reach double figures in scoring. Netting double-digits in points were Shan Foster (18), Alex Gordon (18), Ross Neltner (16), Jermaine Beal (10) and A.J. Ogilvy (10). The same five also reached double figures against Utah State. FOSTER VAULTS UP SCORING CHART Shan Foster moved up three positions on Vanderbilt’s all-time scoring list from seventh to fourth with his 18 points against LSU. He now has 1,702 points for his career. His 1,702 points moved him ahead of Drew Maddux (1995-98), Clyde Lee (1964-66) and Mike Rhodes (1978-81). BALL CONTROL After turning the ball over a season-high 22 times in road losses at Kentucky and Tennessee, the Commodores reduced that number significantly against LSU by committing a season-low eight turnovers. Vanderbilt entered the game averaging 20.3 turnovers in SEC play. The eight turnovers were the fewest by the Commodores since committing just five in the Sweet 16 against Georgetown last season. “The way we were playing lately turning the ball over wasn’t going to get it done in the SEC, so that was the focus since we got back from Tennessee,” Ross Neltner said. KEY RUN Trailing 24-23 with 9:25 to play in the first half, a layup by Ross Neltner triggered a 20-4 run, which gave Vanderbilt a 43-28 lead. During the run, six different players scored for the Commodores. Prior to the run, there had been seven lead changes in just over 10 minutes of play. LSU never got closer than within nine from that point on. BEAL JUST MISSES DOUBLE-DOUBLE Sophomore Jermaine Beal came within one assist of recording the first double-double of his career, finishing with 10 points and nine assists. The nine assists tied a career high he set earlier this season against Georgia Tech (12/1/07).

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings was worried about his team in many ways entering Saturday’s game against LSU.

The 14th-ranked Commodores (No. 16 AP) played sloppily in recent losses to Kentucky and Tennessee, their first of the season after crafting a school-best 16-0 start.

Stallings was equally concerned with his team’s mental state.

“We needed a win,” he said. “I was afraid our confidence would be a little bit down. When you lose two in a row, it can start chipping away at how you feel about yourself.”

Vanderbilt got the remedy it needed as Alex Gordon and Shan Foster both scored 18 points to spark a 92-76 victory over LSU.

Foster, Vanderbilt’s best outside shooter, made only one of 11 3-point attempts Thursday at No. 6 Tennessee. He hit four of his first five shots from long distance Saturday. Gordon also made four 3s.

The Commodores were 9-for-19 from 3-point range and shot 49.2 percent overall from the field.

Ross Neltner added 16 points for the Commodores (17-2, 2-2 Southeastern Conference), while Jermaine Beal had 10 points and nine assists.

Marcus Thornton had 27 points for the Tigers (7-11, 0-4) and Anthony Randolph added 14 points and 19 rebounds.

LSU coach John Brady expected Vanderbilt to be motivated to snap the two-game losing streak.

“They needed this game at home,” he said. “It was important for them to play well, and they did that.”

Vanderbilt blew the game open at the start the second half. Foster and Gordon swished two 3-pointers each in the first 3:28, pushing the lead to 57-41.

The Commodores led by no less than 16 points the rest of the way and pushed the lead to 23 with 4:47 remaining on a 3-pointer by Gordon.

Vanderbilt, sixth in the nation in 3-point shooting percentage entering the game at 42.3 percent, made eight of its first 14 from long range. LSU was only 4-of-13 for the game.

“We knew coming in they had a short bench,” Gordon said of the Tigers. “Our mentality was to push the ball every chance we got and wear them down.”

That’s what Brady was hoping to avoid.

“I told our team before the game that if we could keep the game in the high 60s or low 70s, we might be able to manufacture enough points to have an opportunity,” he said. “Vanderbilt is just too much for us to be able to guard.”

Beginning at the 9:25 mark of the first half, Vanderbilt reeled off a 20-4 run, turning a 24-23 deficit into a 43-28 lead.

Neltner, A.J. Ogilvy and Gordon scored four points each during the spurt, which gave Vanderbilt the lead for good.