Shittu leads Vanderbilt to win over Alcorn State
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Vanderbilt won by 25 points, but it seemed like an off-night during much of the game.
That's how high expectations have become for the Commodores with their highly-touted recruiting class.
Freshman Simi Shittu scored 20 points and senior Joe Toye added 14, and Vanderbilt beat Alcorn State 79-54 Friday night.
''I thought Alcorn played really well,'' Commodores coach Bryce Drew said. ''Early in the season when you face a lot of changing defenses, especially with a young team, it can keep you off balance. We just couldn't get into a rhythm offensively until about that 15-minute mark in the second half.''
Shittu, a 6-foot-10 power forward, was a force inside, hitting 9 of 11 shots from the floor. He also blocked three shots for the 3-0 Commodores.
Vanderbilt freshman Darius Garland, who entered the game tied for second in scoring in the Southeastern Conference, was held to a season-low three points - 18.5 below his average. The point guard missed 5 of 6 from the floor, but he had seven rebounds and four assists.
''We wanted to focus in on Garland and I thought defensively we did a great job holding a guy of his caliber to three points,'' Braves coach Montez Robinson said. ''We wanted to just try to take the ball out of his hands as much as possible. But when you take away a player like him you can't let other guys make up for it.''
Shittu and Garland, both five star-prospects and McDonald's All-Americans, form the core of Vanderbilt's best recruiting class in school history.
Vanderbilt's Matt Ryan added 12 points as the Notre Dame transfer hit four 3-pointers. Saben Lee added 10 points and a game-high six assists.
Matthew Moyer, who was granted an NCAA waiver earlier in the week, had a team-high eight rebounds and five points in his Vanderbilt debut after transferring from Syracuse in the summer.
The NCAA allowed the 6-foot-8 forward to play immediately instead of sitting out one year.
''Length, he brings energy as well,'' Shittu said when asked what Moyer can add to the lineup. ''Leadership because he's been to where we're trying to be this year. And he's a good teammate as well.''
Troymain Crosby led Alcorn State (1-2) with 11 points and Deshawn Andrews had 10. Maurice Howard, who scored a career-high 24 points in Alcorn State's previous game against Blue Mountain, was held to five points on 2 of 11 shooting.
Alcorn State cut Vanderbilt's lead to 50-41 with 12:11 left, but the Commodores closed with a 29-13 run. The Braves shot 32 percent from the floor.
Vanderbilt had a 16-2 edge in fast-break points and a 42-22 advantage on points in the paint.
Vanderbilt couldn't find a steady rhythm in the first half, but still managed a 37-29 lead.
Alcorn State faces another SEC team when it visits Mississippi State on Nov. 26.
INJURED BRAVE
Alcorn State's Alonzo Campbell, a 7-foot center, was helped off the court, favoring his right hip 19 seconds into the second half. ''I think it was a hip pointer,'' Robinson said. ''We won't know the depth of it until we get back. With something like that (he could be out) a couple of weeks maybe. I hope it's two weeks, it's a guessing game.''
STILL CONTRIBUTING
Garland still found ways to contribute even though his shots weren't falling. ''Obviously, we'd like him to score more, but he does so many things out there,'' Drew said. ''He controls the tempo. He only had four assists, but if we probably would have made more layups and 3's, he could have had 10 assists easily. Even when he's not scoring he's so important out there.''
BIG PICTURE
Alcorn State: The Braves stayed within striking range until the Commodores pulled away late.
Vanderbilt: After demolishing the Braves by 39 points last season the Commodores got a much tougher battle this time, especially during the first 30 minutes.
UP NEXT
Alcorn State visits Kent State Sunday in the second of a five straight road games.
Vanderbilt hosts Liberty on Monday in the second of a four-game homestand.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
0.0 | Â | End of period | Â | |
18:26 | Â | Shooting foul on Deshaw Andrews | Â | |
18:20 | Â | Troymain Crosby missed layup | Â | |
18:18 | Â | Defensive rebound by Joe Toye | Â | |
17:46 | Â | Maurice Howard missed layup | Â | |
17:44 | Â | Defensive rebound by Darius Garland | Â | |
17:36 | Â | Defensive rebound by Maurice Howard | Â | |
17:32 | Â | Defensive rebound by Vanderbilt | Â | |
17:32 | Â | Personal foul on Alonzo Campbell | Â | |
17:12 | +3 | Maurice Howard made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Troymain Crosby | 5-6 | |
16:03 | Â | Bad pass turnover on Saben Lee, stolen by Deshaw Andrews | Â | |
15:46 | Â | Defensive rebound by Joe Toye | Â | |
15:39 | Â | Lost ball turnover on Matt Ryan, stolen by Troymain Crosby | Â | |
15:31 | Â | Maurice Howard missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
15:29 | Â | Defensive rebound by Matt Ryan | Â | |
15:26 | +2 | Vanderbilt made layup, assist by Matt Ryan | 5-10 | |
14:54 | Â | Lost ball turnover on Saben Lee, stolen by Troymain Crosby | Â | |
14:29 | Â | Personal foul on Aaron Nesmith | Â | |
14:26 | Â | Turnover on Jael Scott | Â | |
14:26 | Â | Personal foul on Maurice Howard | Â | |
14:16 | Â | Lost ball turnover on Darius Garland, stolen by Devon Brewer | Â | |
13:55 | Â | Troymain Crosby missed jump shot | Â | |
13:53 | Â | Defensive rebound by Matthew Moyer | Â | |
13:47 | +2 | Aaron Nesmith made layup | 8-12 | |
13:20 | Â | Devon Brewer missed layup | Â | |
13:18 | Â | Offensive rebound by Harold Givens | Â | |
13:13 | +2 | Harold Givens made tip-in | 10-12 | |
12:53 | Â | Matt Ryan missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
12:51 | Â | Offensive rebound by Matthew Moyer | Â | |
12:51 | Â | Matthew Moyer missed tip-in | Â | |
12:51 | Â | Defensive rebound by Harold Givens | Â | |
12:45 | Â | Shooting foul on Clevon Brown | Â | |
12:45 | Â | Devon Brewer missed 1st of 2 free throws | Â | |
12:45 | +1 | Devon Brewer made 2nd of 2 free throws | 11-12 | |
12:45 | +1 | Devon Brewer made 2nd of 2 free throws | 11-12 | |
12:33 | +3 | Aaron Nesmith made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Saben Lee | 11-15 | |
12:06 | +3 | Khari Jabriel Allen made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Harold Givens | 14-15 | |
11:50 | Â | Aaron Nesmith missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
11:48 | Â | Defensive rebound by Harold Givens | Â | |
11:37 | Â | Jael Scott missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
11:35 | Â | Defensive rebound by Matthew Moyer | Â | |
11:29 | +3 | Matthew Moyer made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Saben Lee | 14-18 | |
10:54 | Â | Devon Brewer missed jump shot | Â | |
10:52 | Â | Defensive rebound by Matthew Moyer | Â | |
10:51 | Â | Personal foul on Jael Scott | Â | |
10:36 | Â | Vanderbilt missed layup | Â | |
10:34 | Â | Defensive rebound by Alcorn State | Â | |
10:22 | Â | Deshaw Andrews missed layup | Â | |
10:20 | Â | Offensive rebound by Devon Brewer | Â | |
10:16 | +2 | Devon Brewer made tip-in | 16-18 | |
10:05 | Â | Saben Lee missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
10:03 | Â | Offensive rebound by Matthew Moyer | Â | |
9:57 | Â | Matthew Moyer missed layup | Â | |
9:55 | Â | Defensive rebound by Maurice Howard | Â | |
9:48 | Â | Personal foul on Joe Toye | Â | |
9:43 | Â | Troymain Crosby missed jump shot | Â | |
9:41 | Â | Defensive rebound by Vanderbilt | Â | |
9:31 | Â | Yanni Wetzell missed layup | Â | |
9:29 | Â | Defensive rebound by Deshaw Andrews | Â | |
9:05 | Â | Deshaw Andrews missed layup, blocked by Joe Toye | Â | |
9:03 | Â | Offensive rebound by Alcorn State | Â | |
9:00 | Â | Maurice Howard missed jump shot | Â | |
8:58 | Â | Offensive rebound by Maurice Howard | Â | |
8:53 | Â | Khari Jabriel Allen missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
8:51 | Â | Defensive rebound by Vanderbilt | Â | |
8:51 | Â | Personal foul on Deshaw Andrews | Â | |
8:28 | +2 | Yanni Wetzell made jump shot | 16-20 | |
8:22 | +3 | Khari Jabriel Allen made 3-pt. jump shot | 19-20 | |
8:06 | Â | Turnover on Darius Garland | Â | |
7:48 | Â | Khari Jabriel Allen missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
7:46 | Â | Defensive rebound by Darius Garland | Â | |
7:39 | Â | Shooting foul on Reginal Johnson | Â | |
7:39 | Â | Joe Toye missed 1st of 2 free throws | Â | |
7:39 | +1 | Joe Toye made 2nd of 2 free throws | 19-21 | |
7:39 | +1 | Joe Toye made 2nd of 2 free throws | 19-21 | |
7:25 | Â | Offensive foul on Reginal Johnson | Â | |
7:25 | Â | Turnover on Reginal Johnson | Â | |
7:05 | Â | Saben Lee missed jump shot | Â | |
7:03 | Â | Defensive rebound by Troymain Crosby | Â | |
6:39 | +2 | Troymain Crosby made layup, assist by Khari Jabriel Allen | 21-21 | |
6:09 | +2 | Vanderbilt made dunk, assist by Saben Lee | 21-23 | |
5:43 | Â | Troymain Crosby missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
5:41 | Â | Defensive rebound by Yanni Wetzell | Â | |
5:36 | +2 | Joe Toye made layup | 21-25 | |
5:36 | Â | Shooting foul on Alonzo Campbell | Â | |
5:36 | +1 | Joe Toye made free throw | 21-26 | |
5:14 | Â | Shooting foul on Matt Ryan | Â | |
5:14 | +1 | Troymain Crosby made 1st of 2 free throws | 22-26 | |
5:14 | +1 | Troymain Crosby made 2nd of 2 free throws | 23-26 | |
4:59 | Â | Vanderbilt missed layup | Â | |
4:57 | Â | Defensive rebound by Reginal Johnson | Â | |
4:47 | +2 | Troymain Crosby made layup | 25-26 | |
4:37 | Â | Darius Garland missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
4:35 | Â | Defensive rebound by Devon Brewer | Â | |
4:13 | Â | Khari Jabriel Allen missed jump shot | Â | |
4:11 | Â | Defensive rebound by Matt Ryan | Â | |
4:06 | +3 | Matt Ryan made 3-pt. jump shot | 25-29 | |
3:40 | Â | Maurice Howard missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
3:38 | Â | Defensive rebound by Joe Toye | Â | |
3:29 | +2 | Vanderbilt made layup | 25-31 | |
3:05 | Â | Jael Scott missed layup | Â | |
3:03 | Â | Defensive rebound by Aaron Nesmith | Â | |
2:58 | +3 | Matt Ryan made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Aaron Nesmith | 25-34 | |
2:35 | +2 | Devon Brewer made jump shot, assist by Maurice Howard | 27-34 | |
2:08 | Â | Lost ball turnover on Joe Toye, stolen by Harold Givens | Â | |
2:02 | Â | Offensive foul on Harold Givens | Â | |
2:02 | Â | Turnover on Harold Givens | Â | |
1:51 | Â | Personal foul on Jael Scott | Â | |
1:51 | +1 | Aaron Nesmith made 1st of 2 free throws | 27-35 | |
1:51 | +1 | Aaron Nesmith made 2nd of 2 free throws | 27-36 | |
1:26 | Â | Reginal Johnson missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
1:17 | Â | Offensive rebound by Jael Scott | Â | |
1:15 | Â | Jael Scott missed layup, blocked by Aaron Nesmith | Â | |
1:15 | Â | Defensive rebound by Aaron Nesmith | Â | |
58.0 | Â | Aaron Nesmith missed jump shot | Â | |
56.0 | Â | Offensive rebound by Clevon Brown | Â | |
52.0 | Â | Matt Ryan missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
50.0 | Â | Defensive rebound by Jael Scott | Â | |
43.0 | +2 | Maurice Howard made jump shot | 29-36 | |
31.0 | Â | Clevon Brown missed layup | Â | |
29.0 | Â | Defensive rebound by Devon Brewer | Â | |
24.0 | Â | Turnover on Reginal Johnson | Â | |
6.0 | Â | Shooting foul on Jael Scott | Â | |
6.0 | Â | Darius Garland missed 1st of 2 free throws | Â | |
6.0 | +1 | Darius Garland made 2nd of 2 free throws | 29-37 | |
6.0 | +1 | Darius Garland made 2nd of 2 free throws | 29-37 | |
2.0 | Â | Khari Jabriel Allen missed layup | Â | |
0.0 | Â | Defensive rebound by Vanderbilt | Â |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
19:42 | Â | Shooting foul on Alonzo Campbell | Â | |
19:16 | Â | Offensive rebound by Deshaw Andrews | Â | |
16:58 | Â | Shooting foul on Troymain Crosby | Â | |
16:23 | +2 | Joe Toye made layup | 33-42 | |
16:23 | Â | Shooting foul on Kobe Wilson | Â | |
15:13 | Â | Reginal Johnson missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
14:46 | Â | Personal foul on Aaron Nesmith | Â | |
13:16 | Â | Shooting foul on Aaron Nesmith | Â | |
12:13 | Â | Defensive rebound by Darius Garland | Â | |
11:47 | Â | Defensive rebound by Aaron Nesmith | Â | |
11:34 | Â | Clevon Brown missed jump shot | Â | |
11:28 | Â | Personal foul on Clevon Brown | Â | |
11:13 | Â | Bad pass turnover on Jael Scott | Â | |
10:22 | Â | Shooting foul on Matt Ryan | Â | |
10:22 | Â | Troymain Crosby missed 1st of 2 free throws | Â | |
10:12 | Â | Shooting foul on Deshaw Andrews | Â | |
9:32 | Â | Aaron Nesmith missed jump shot | Â | |
9:30 | Â | Offensive rebound by Darius Garland | Â | |
9:25 | Â | Darius Garland missed layup | Â | |
9:23 | Â | Defensive rebound by Jael Scott | Â | |
9:20 | Â | Troymain Crosby missed layup | Â | |
9:18 | Â | Defensive rebound by Darius Garland | Â | |
8:54 | Â | Defensive rebound by Darius Garland | Â | |
7:34 | Â | Lost ball turnover on Jael Scott, stolen by Joe Toye | Â | |
7:12 | Â | Yanni Wetzell missed jump shot | Â | |
6:10 | Â | Personal foul on Maxwell Evans | Â | |
5:35 | Â | Shooting foul on Khari Jabriel Allen | Â | |
4:39 | Â | Personal foul on Matthew Moyer | Â | |
4:34 | Â | Lost ball turnover on Maurice Howard, stolen by Maxwell Evans | Â | |
4:24 | Â | Personal foul on Maurice Howard | Â | |
4:24 | Â | Khari Jabriel Allen missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
4:22 | Â | Offensive rebound by Jael Scott | Â | |
4:18 | Â | Jael Scott missed tip-in | Â | |
4:10 | Â | Defensive rebound by Aaron Nesmith | Â | |
4:05 | Â | Maxwell Evans missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
4:05 | Â | Defensive rebound by Deshaw Andrews | Â | |
4:05 | Â | Personal foul on Matthew Moyer | Â | |
4:05 | Â | Deshaw Andrews missed free throw | Â | |
4:05 | Â | Offensive rebound by Alcorn State | Â | |
4:04 | Â | Reginal Johnson missed jump shot | Â | |
4:02 | Â | Offensive rebound by Reginal Johnson | Â | |
3:57 | +2 | Reginal Johnson made tip-in | 54-71 | |
3:23 | Â | Lost ball turnover on Matthew Moyer, stolen by Reginal Johnson | Â | |
3:02 | Â | Reginal Johnson missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
3:00 | Â | Defensive rebound by Matthew Moyer | Â | |
2:56 | Â | Lost ball turnover on Matthew Moyer, stolen by Khari Jabriel Allen | Â | |
2:24 | Â | Offensive rebound by Matthew Moyer | Â | |
2:10 | Â | Lost ball turnover on Matthew Moyer, stolen by Maurice Howard | Â | |
2:06 | +2 | Saben Lee made layup, assist by Matthew Moyer | 54-73 | |
1:44 | Â | Maurice Howard missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
1:42 | Â | Defensive rebound by Maxwell Evans | Â |
Min. Per Game | ||
Pts. Per Game | ||
Ast. Per Game | ||
Reb. Per Game | ||
Field Goal % | ||
Three Point % | ||
Free Throw % |
 | Defensive rebound by Maxwell Evans | 1:42 |
 | Maurice Howard missed 3-pt. jump shot | 1:44 |
+ 2 | Saben Lee made layup, assist by Matthew Moyer | 2:06 |
 | Lost ball turnover on Matthew Moyer, stolen by Maurice Howard | 2:10 |
 | Offensive rebound by Matthew Moyer | 2:24 |
 | Lost ball turnover on Matthew Moyer, stolen by Khari Jabriel Allen | 2:56 |
 | Defensive rebound by Matthew Moyer | 3:00 |
 | Reginal Johnson missed 3-pt. jump shot | 3:02 |
 | Lost ball turnover on Matthew Moyer, stolen by Reginal Johnson | 3:23 |
+ 2 | Reginal Johnson made tip-in | 3:57 |
 | Offensive rebound by Reginal Johnson | 4:02 |
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
Points | 0 | 0 |
Field Goals | 0-0 (0.0%) | 0-0 (0.0%) |
3-Pointers | 0-0 (0.0%) | 0-0 (0.0%) |
Free Throws | 0-0 (0.0%) | 0-0 (0.0%) |
Total Rebounds | 0 | 0 |
Offensive | 0 | 0 |
Defensive | 0 | 0 |
Team | 0 | 0 |
Assists | 0 | 0 |
Steals | 0 | 0 |
Blocks | 0 | 0 |
Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
Fouls | 0 | 0 |
Technicals | 0 | 0 |
|
Team Stats | |||
---|---|---|---|
Alcorn State 1-2 | 64.4 PPG | 37.5 RPG | 12.6 APG |
Vanderbilt 3-0 | 68.1 PPG | 38.8 RPG | 11.6 APG |
Starters | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB |
Starters | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB |
Bench | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB |
Starters | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB |
Starters | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB |
Bench | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB |