 VANDERBILT 69, MIAMI 62
Hosting Vanderbilt converted 15-of -17 from the line and junior guard John Jenkins led all scorers with 26 points as the Commodores held off Miami , 69-62, at Memorial Gym.
The unheralded RedHawks (4-8) were just 1-5 on the road this season, but they stayed within striking distance of Vanderbilt (10-4) until the final minute thanks to a career-high 24-point performance by Brian Sullivan. The freshman guard hit 8-of-10 from behind the arc and missed his only shot inside the line, coming off the bench to post double figures for the fourth time in his young career.
“He had a great night tonight,” Coles said, adding. “When you make shots, you can stay in the game.”
Miami enjoyed its only lead of the game midway through the first half, and Sullivan played a key part. The hosts were leading 10-4 when Sullivan hit his first trey at 11:05. He added three more and Josh Sewell chipped in a bucket as MU outscored Vandy 11-4 to grab an 18-14 advantage at 7:59. Sullivan’s fourth 3-pointer ended the run and prompted a VU time out.
The Commodores, trailing 20-16, regrouped and went on their own 11-4 run to finish the first half with a 27-24 lead.
Vanderbilt, fresh off a road win over No. 13 Marquette - found the range on its own treys as the second half started. The Commodores connected on their first four triple attempts while moving out to a 41-32 advantage.
Miami responded with six straight points inside, four by Julian Mavunga and two by Vince Lagarza. The RedHawks outscored Vanderbilt inside 28-22 and also had a 28-25 rebounding edge.
Mavunga, a senior averaging 19.9 ppg, was held to two points in the first half. He added a dozen after the break to record his eighth double-double of the year and 22nd of his career. He had 14 points on 7-of-11 shooting and pulled down 11 rebounds.
Outside of Sullivan’s 8-for-10 behind the arc, the remainder of the RedHawks went 1-for-11 from long range. That one came from Jon Harris at 12:01, pulling MU to within two at 43-41. Vanderbilt, however, went on a 9-0 run. Jenkins contributed the first five and Taylor added four more as the hosts went up by nine, 52-41.
A Lance Goulbourne dunk at 2:51 put Vandy up 63-55, but that was the Commodores last field goal. Sullivan hit his final trey 17 seconds later to make it a five-point game.
“Every time it looked like we were going to waver a little bit, Sulli hit another one,” Coles said.
Miami scored two more field goals, but Tinsley canned six straight free throws to make it a seven-point final.
“If we don’t make some mental mistakes tonight, we were good enough to win that game,” Coles said.
Sullivan and Mavunga were the only players in double figures for the RedHawks, who connected on 26-of-55 (47.3 percent) from the floor.
Vanderbilt, which hit 23-of-52 overall (44.2 percent) and 8-of-18 (44.4 percent) long range, put three players in double-digits. Jeffrey Taylor and Tinsley contributed 11 apiece, while Jenkins led the way with his 26. He made 9-of-15 from the floor and 5-of-11 from behind the arc.
“I can’t say enough about Jenkins,” said Coles, who now turns his team’s attention to a daunting MAC schedule. Injuries and other issues have forced the RedHawks to start four sophomores on most nights and the MAC East, in particular, is loaded with talent this season. “Boy, they are good,” Coles said. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt more challenged going into league (play).”
Miami begins the MAC journey Saturday when it hosts Akron (8-6). The Zips roster includes 6-8 senior forward Nikola Cvetinovic (10.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.9 apg) and shot-blocker extraordinaire Zeke Marshall. The 7-0 center had registered four or more shots in six games this season. Vanderbilt totaled nine blocks against the RedHawks Monday. |
