Vanderbilt bites Gators in Nashville
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Vanderbilt got an elusive Senior Night win, as a 22-point effort from John Jenkins and an 18-point effort from Jeffery Taylor aided the Commodores to a 77-67 victory over No. 13 Florida at Memorial Gymnasium on Tuesday evening.
The Commodores led most of the way, but an early second-half spurt by Florida put the Gators up by a point on several occasions during the second half, the last coming when Erik Murphy's 3 put UF ahead 55-54 with 9:11 remaining.
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But a Taylor 3 on the other end gave VU the lead back for good, though Florida would pull within one on two other occasions, the last coming on a Brad Beal 3.
Free throws played a big part, as the Commodores hit 19-of-23 attempts in the second half.
VU also hit half its 24 3-point attempts.
The Commodores led 19-7 at one point in the first half and seemed to be in complete control, but the Gators rallied to tie the game at 27 with under a minute left in the first half. But a Taylor 3 gave VU a lead by that many at the break.
Senior Festus Ezeli, playing his last home game, also added 11 for Vanderbilt.