Each time the Commodores lost.
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Vanderbilt throttled first-place Texas A&M 77-60 on Thursday night, securing its first win over a Top 25 team in four years and sending a message that it’s still capable of a late-season NCAA tournament push despite its previous struggles.
With quarterbacks Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray both transferring from Texas A&M before the bowl game, the Aggies were in need of depth at the position.
Given the expectations for Vandy this season and the 4-4 start that followed, this was easily the best performance of the season.
This game marks the beginning of the final stretch for A&M, and an SEC regular season title is a highly attainable goal.
Williams was 7-of-13 from the field and finished with a team-high 20 points and a game-high 15 rebounds for a double-double before fouling out to lead UF, which placed four players in double figures. Vanderbilt has a 9-2 record at home and possess four players who all shoot over 40 percent from three-point range (min. 30 shots).
Florida has some juice right now, but it’s impossible to feel confidence about any team as the title favorite. The Aggies will try to keep it rolling with a big win against Vanderbilt. Wade Baldwin chipped in with 17 points and 8 assists.
Point guard Wade Baldwin scored 17 points and consistently attacked off the bounce and made intelligent decisions with the ball. But Vanderbilt took the halftime lead and never let it go, extending it to as high as 19 with just over a minute left in the game. Damian Jones and Kornet scored 16 of Vanderbilt’s first 18 points.
The Commodores protected their lead with three straight 3-pointers from Kornet, Cam Justice and Riley LaChance for a 65-48 advantage midway through the second half.
The Commodores (12-9, 4-4 SEC) are treading water in the middle of the SEC for now, but they’ve lost two of their last three – most recently a 72-58 beating from the Texas Longhorns on Saturday.
(3) NOTRE DAME 82, NORTH CAROLINA STATE 46: Madison Cable matched her career-high with 25 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Irish to a win at home. (Jalen) rushed and he put some pressure on himself.
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(2) SC 78, (18) KENTUCKY 68: Alaina Coates had 27 points and 13 rebounds as the host Gamecocks overcame an injury to star Tiffany Mitchell.
