Second half rally sinks Furman
NASHVILLE -- Vanderbilt used an 18-2 second half run to break open a tie game coast to an 81-60 win over Furman on a Sunday night in Nashville. The Commodores improved to 2-0 on the season while the Paladins dropped to 1-1.
Furman took a 38-36 halftime lead on the strength of a 5-for-12 performance behind the three-point arc and a perfect 15-of-15 showing at the foul line. The Commodores, meanwhile, shot a chilly 36% from the field during the half.
Advertisement
After several ties and lead changes, the Commodores took control with 11:40 remaining in a game when Alex Gordon hit a jumper to give Vandy a 54-52 lead. Gordon then hit a layup and assisted Julian Terrell on another layup to increase the margin to six.
Vanderbilt would continue with a barrage of layups and fast-break baskets when the Paladins Eric Webb finally hit a three-pointer with 4:05 remaining to cut the lead to 70-57. But Vandy answered with an 11-3 run over the next 2:35 to provide the final 81-60 margin.
"Obviously, we were very pleased with how we played in the second half," commented VU coach Kevin Stallings, whose club shot an amazing 71% in the second half. "The first half, I just thought we couldn't make shots."
Four Commodores -- Shan Foster (25 points), DeMarre Carroll (18), Gordon (16), and Ted Skuchas (10) – had double-figure scoring nights. Carroll set a career high in scoring, and Gordon's 10 assists were also a personal best.
Vandy will stay in Nashville to face UNC-Greensboro on Tuesday before traveling to Georgetown on Saturday. Tuesday night's game will begin at the conclusion of the women's game with Alabama A&M, which tips off at 6 PM.
VandySports.com will have more coverage of this weekend's two basketball victories to come.