Vanderbilt Ends Record Losing Streak in 99-90 Upset of #18 LSU
NASHVILLE, TN. — Memorial Magic lives, at least on Wednesday night as the Vanderbilt Commodores snapped their record 28-game conference losing streak in style with a thrilling 99-90 upset of No. 18 LSU.
It will be a night long remembered by head coach Jerry Stackhouse, his players and the fans that suffered through the last 28 games in SEC play and one both Saben Lee and Maxwell Evans will be telling their grandchildren about someday.
Both Lee and Evans eclipsed the 30-point mark, both career highs, while Jordan Wright also registered a new career-high for the Commodores.
Lee finished the night with 33 while Evans' 31 and Wright's 11 points led the way to the victory before 9,256 fans inside Memorial Gym.
This one was no fluke, as the undermanned and underdog Commodores played their most complete 40 minutes of basketball this season against arguably the best team they've seen so far.
Once again the Commodores did almost everything right in the first half as they battled back and forth with the Tigers and thanks to a great shooting first 13 minutes by Maxwell Evans, giving Vanderbilt a 28-25 lead with 7:57 remaining in the first half.
Evans was on target from deep, knocking down three of five attempts to help Vanderbilt keep pace and lead the Tigers. He would end the half with 25 points, leading all scorers and setting his career-high in a single half.
The Commodores managed to hit 55% from the floor, knocking in 18 of 33 through the first twenty minutes and were 8 of 18 from three-point range at the same time.
For LSU, it was the free-throw strip that kept them close as the Tigers connected on 18 of 21 from the line. Their first-half shooting was not nearly as good, as they struggled to the 45% mark on 14 of 31 from the floor and only 1 of 9 from long range. Emmitt Williams led the Tigers with 15 points while Trendon Watford finished the half with 14.
The Commodores held their own on the glass in the first half, trailing the Tigers 18-16 in total rebounds during the period.
Vanderbilt has struggled in second halves and in closing out games, but that would not be the case as the Commodores led throughout the second half, surrendering the lead at 82-80 but would quickly respond and retake the advantage and never surrender it again.
Vanderbilt knocked down 57% of their shots on the night, including 12 of 30 from three-point range and 17 of 23 free-throw attempts.
If not for Vanderbilt fouls and LSU fee-throws this might have even been a blowout as the Tigers needed everything the got at the strip to stay close as they found 28 of their points from the line, finishing 28 of 36 at the line.
Shooting was a struggle and the ultimate undoing of the Tigers as they struggled throughout the game, managing just 47% from the floor on 29 of 62 and a paltry 4 of 18 from deep.
Scottie Pippen Jr. finished the night with 13 points and hit a big three late in the game to help the Commodores maintain their advantage while Wright's nine second-half points en route to his career-high effort were during a stretch were both Evans and Lee were struggling to find the basket.
“It was some real feeling and emotion about what we’ve been through,” Vanderbilt head coach Jerry Stackhouse said. “It’s been a tough year just from the standpoint of losing guys and everything and last year with those guys it was probably even more special and emotional for them.”
In the end, the Commodores got what this team, it's program and the university needed most, and some of the questions that have hounded then during this stretch can be put to bed.
LSU finished with four players in double figures led by Trendon Watford with 26, Emmitt Williams with 24 while Javonte Smart and Skyler Mays finished with 15 each.
The Commodores now head to Mississippi State Saturday night for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff against the Bulldogs. The question is, can this team built on grit, determination, and heart win two in a row?
