NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ Daniel Gafford scored 20 points, and the Arkansas
Razorbacks routed Vanderbilt 84-48 Wednesday night to seal the Commodores’ worst
season ever.
The Commodores (9-21, 0-17 Southeastern Conference) now have the most losses in
school history, and they wrapped up their home schedule at 8-10 for the first
losing record in 67 seasons at Memorial Gym. A loss Saturday night to No. 10 LSU
would make Vanderbilt the first SEC team to go winless in league play since
Georgia Tech went 0-14 in 1953-54.
Arkansas (16-14, 7-10) now has won two straight after snapping its own six-game
skid. The Razorbacks also have won four straight against Vanderbilt, sweeping
the season series after taking the first game between these teams 69-66 in
Arkansas.
Mason Jones added 16 points for the Razorbacks. Isaiah Joe had 12, and Desi
Sills 11.
This game was only that close at halftime with Arkansas up 29-25. The
Razorbacks outscored Vanderbilt 23-4 over the first 11 minutes of the second
half, taking advantage of the Commodores’ worst shooting performance this
season. They went 17 minutes, 35 seconds between field goals and shot a
season-low 29.6 percent.
Aaron Nesmith led Vandy with 11 points as the Commodores also suffered through
their widest margin of defeat this season.
Vanderbilt appeared ready to end their painful skid as they opened the game
with a 12-2 run and led 15-5 on a 3-pointer by Maxwell Evans with 13:17 left.
Then the Commodores didn’t hit another field goal the rest of the first half,
missing their last 16 shots. Their first made field goal in the second half was
a goaltending call on a jumper by Simisola Shittu with 15:42 to go before Aaron
Nesmith finally scored on a layup with 12:49 left.
Arkansas shook off its own poor shooting after missing five of its first six.
After that, it was a fairly easy night for the Razorbacks as they took the lead
with their first 23-4 run of the game.
BIG PICTURE
Arkansas: Joe made four 3s to give him 104 this season and the school record
for a single season, passing Scotty Thurman who made 102 in 1995. … The
Razorbacks finished the game hitting their last 11 shots and finished at 52.6
percent (30 of 57).
Vanderbilt: At least the Commodores have managed to remain one of only three
schools to knock down a 3 in every game since the 3-point line was added in the
1986-87 season. Senior Joe Toye, getting the start, hit a 3 for the game’s
opening bucket to extend the streak to 1,061 consecutive games with a made 3.
UGLY NUMBERS
The Commodores had 23 turnovers, and Arkansas scored 33 points off those
mistakes.
UP NEXT
Arkansas: Hosts Alabama on Saturday.
Vanderbilt: Visiting No. 10 LSU on Saturday night.
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