National Basketball Association
Vanderbilt 77, Florida 67
When: 9:00 PM ET, Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Where: Memorial Gym, Nashville, Tennessee
Officials:
# Patrick Adams, # Antinio Petty, # Mike Roberts
Attendance:
14316
By SportsDirect Inc.
VANDERBILT 77, NO. 13 FLORIDA 67: John Jenkins scored 22 points, and the Commodores outgunned the visiting Gators in a showdown for second place in the SEC.
The victory gives Vanderbilt (21-9, 10-5 SEC) a first-round bye in next week’s SEC Tournament in New Orleans, and moves the Commodores into a second-place tie with the Gators (22-8, 10-5 SEC) with one game left in the regular season.
The conference’s two best 3-point shooting teams traded long-range jumpers all night. Vanderbilt finished 12-for-24 from 3-point range, while the Gators went 8-for-24.
Kenny Boynton’s 3-pointer pulled the Gators within 68-64 with 4:04 to go, but a Jeffery Taylor free throw and two Brad Tinsley free throws put Vanderbilt ahead 71-64 with 3:12 remaining.
Down 71-65, the Gators forced a turnover but Erving Walker traveled with 1:14 left.
Jenkins, the SEC’s leading scorer, finished 6-for-9 from 3-point range. Taylor added 18 points, hitting four 3-pointers.
Bradley Beal scored 16 points (making three 3s) to pace the Gators, who have lost two in a row.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Vanderbilt came out flying on senior night, scoring the game’s first seven points and led 19-7 midway through the first half. … Down eight with five minutes left in the first half, Florida rallied to tie the game at 27-27 on Scottie Wilbekin’s 3-pointer with 1:17 remaining. … The Commodores end the regular season Saturday at Tennessee. The Gators host top-ranked Kentucky on Sunday.
Top Game Performances
Florida |
|
Vanderbilt |
Bradley Beal 16 |
Scoring |
John Jenkins 22 |
Erving Walker 3 |
Assists |
Brad Tinsley 4 |
Patric Young 8 |
Rebounds |
Jeffery Taylor 6 |
Bradley Beal 3 |
Free Throws Made |
Brad Tinsley 6 |
Bradley Beal 3 |
Steals |
Festus Ezeli 1 |
Bradley Beal 2 |
Blocks |
Festus Ezeli 2 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Points |
FG% |
3PM-3PA |
FTM-FTA |
Assists |
Rebounds |
Blocks |
Steals |
Turnovers |
Florida
|
67 |
44.8 |
8-24 |
7-11 |
7 |
26 |
2 |
7 |
9 |
Vanderbilt
|
77 |
52.3 |
12-24 |
19-26 |
14 |
23 |
2 |
3 |
11 |