Vanderbilt closes on 10-3 run, beats Alabama A&M 70-62
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- — Liam Robbins had 14 points and nine rebounds and Vanderbilt closed on a 10-3 run to beat Alabama A&M 70-62 on Thursday.
Alabama A&M got within 63-62 with 2:36 remaining, on a long 3-pointer by Messiah Thompson, but the Bulldogs didn't score again while turning it over on three straight possessions in the final minute.
Jordan Wright rattled in a wide open 3-pointer from the wing with 42.4 seconds left, off a nice pass from the 7-footer Robbins, to extend Vanderbilt’s lead to 66-62. Wright made a steal at the other end and added two free throws with 31.5 left for a six-point lead.
Wright and Ezra Manjon each added 12 points for Vanderbilt (6-6). The Commodores didn’t have a double-digit scorer until Manjon's basket with 8:13 remaining in the second half.
Vanderbilt trailed 19-11 before going on a 15-0 run, and it was 34-22 after another 8-0 spurt. The Commodores led 34-28 at halftime after despite shooting 35% from the field, including 7 of 25 from distance.
Thompson scored 15 points and Olisa Blaise Akonobi had 14 points and 11 rebounds for Alabama A&M (4-8). Garrett Hicks added 10 points.
Vanderbilt closes the calendar year against SE Louisiana on Dec. 30 before beginning conference play against South Carolina on Jan. 3. Alabama A&M plays at Ohio State on Dec. 29.
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Game Information
- Referees:
- Lee Cassell
- Joe Lindsay
- Shaun Seales
2023-24 Southwestern Athletic Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Grambling | 14-4 | - | 21-15 |
Alcorn State | 13-5 | 1 | 14-18 |
Southern | 12-6 | 2 | 18-14 |
Texas Southern | 12-6 | 2 | 16-17 |
Bethune-Cookman | 11-7 | 3 | 17-17 |
Jackson State | 11-7 | 3 | 15-17 |
Alabama A&M | 9-9 | 5 | 12-23 |
Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 8-10 | 6 | 13-18 |
Alabama State | 8-10 | 6 | 13-19 |
Prairie View A&M | 5-13 | 9 | 10-21 |
Florida A&M | 4-14 | 10 | 6-23 |
Mississippi Valley State | 1-17 | 13 | 1-30 |
2023-24 Southeastern Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Tennessee | 14-4 | - | 27-9 |
Auburn | 13-5 | 1 | 27-8 |
South Carolina | 13-5 | 1 | 26-8 |
Kentucky | 13-5 | 1 | 23-10 |
Alabama | 13-5 | 1 | 25-12 |
Florida | 11-7 | 3 | 24-12 |
Texas A&M | 9-9 | 5 | 21-15 |
LSU | 9-9 | 5 | 17-16 |
Mississippi State | 8-10 | 6 | 21-14 |
Ole Miss | 7-11 | 7 | 20-12 |
Georgia | 6-12 | 8 | 20-17 |
Arkansas | 6-12 | 8 | 16-17 |
Vanderbilt | 4-14 | 10 | 9-23 |
Missouri | 0-18 | 14 | 8-24 |