NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -A.J. Slaughter scored 27 points, and Western Kentucky beat Vanderbilt 76-69 Friday night for the Hilltoppers' first win in this sporadic series since 1945 in the second game of the Sun Belt Classic.
These teams hadn't met since 2001, and Vanderbilt (6-3) had won the last 10 including the last meeting in 2001.
No. 9 Tennessee beat Middle Tennessee 75-54 in the first game of a night that gave Vanderbilt and Tennessee an early chance to play at the Sommet Center where the SEC tournament will be held in March.
But Western Kentucky (5-3) got some balanced scoring and led most of the game in beating Vanderbilt for the first time since Jan. 23, 1945. Sergio Kerusch added 15 points and Jeremy Evans had 12.
Jeffery Taylor led the Commodores, who lost their second straight game, with 21 points, and Jermaine Beal had 12.
