Wright helps Vanderbilt advance in NIT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt bought 24 factors from Jordan Wright and, by and huge, managed the second half in an 82-71 victory over Belmont on Tuesday at Memorial Gymnasium within the first spherical of the Nationwide Invitational Match.

Vandy led the ultimate 3:46 after Belmont’s last-gasp effort to tie the rating at 65-65. The Commodores (18-16) advance to face Dayton (23-10) or Toledo (26-7) ; the date, time and site of that recreation are but to be decided.

Vanderbilt had an eight-point lead with lower than eight minutes to play however noticed that margin sliced to 64-61 with 5:18 remaining after which 65-63 with 4:48 left.

Nick Muszynski tied the rating at 65 proper earlier than Rodney Chatman drained a triple from the proper nook to finish a 9-2 Bruins run. And Belmont could not muster a comeback from there.

Will Richard had 22 factors for Belmont, which noticed its season finish at 25-8.

Liam Robbins chipped in 14 for the Commodores. Chatman and Scotty Pippen Jr. every completed with 10 factors, and Quentin Millora-Brown introduced in 13 rebounds.

The victory was Vanderbilt’s first within the postseason for the reason that 2015 NIT.

Belmont bought off to a sizzling begin Tuesday by making seven of its first 10 shots-including all three triples-to roar out to a 17-10 lead. A 3-point play from Richard put the Bruins up 22-12, and Michael Shanks’ layup made it 24-12.

Down 32-21, Vanderbilt went on a 10-0 run in lower than 2 1/2 minutes-getting six straight factors by Wright within the process-to make it a one-point recreation. The Commodores lastly took their first lead when Millora-Brown threw up a putback on the horn making it 39-38.

Vandy bought 15 factors from Wright within the first 20 minutes and held a 22-13 rebounding benefit. The Bruins shot 50 % and picked up 10 assists on 15 made discipline objectives.

Wright’s layup early within the second half allowed Vanderbilt to stretch its result in 46-43, and Millora-Brown’s putback minutes later made it 51-46. Belmont fought again to tie the rating at 52 on a Grayson Murphy layup.

Vandy mustered a 7-2 run and took a 59-54 lead on a tricky Tyrin Lawrence runner. An extended Wright 3 from the straightaway gave the Dores a 64-56 benefit with 7:55 to go.

Although the Bruins managed to tie it up with almost 4 minutes left, they ran out of gasoline and Vanderbilt prevailed ultimately.

• Pippen Jr. (1,517) is now twelfth on Vanderbilt’s all-time scoring listing. Jeff Fosnes (1,579) is eleventh.
• Pippen Jr. has 676 factors this season, the fourth-most in a single Vanderbilt season and the third-most by a junior in a single Vanderbilt season.
• Pippen may nonetheless develop into the primary SEC participant to common at the very least 20 factors per recreation in consecutive seasons since Ronnie Henderson of LSU did so from 1994-96.
• Pippen now has the eighth-most steals in a Vanderbilt profession with 139.
• Jeffery Taylor is seventh with 146. Wright has now began 39 straight video games for Vanderbilt.
• The Commodores are actually 6-1 all-time in opposition to Belmont with the Bruins’ lone win coming in 2017 at Belmont.
• The Commodores are actually 14-4 this season when main at halftime, 11-2 when scoring at the very least 75 factors and 16-8 when taking pictures at the very least 40 %.
• Attendance on Tuesday was introduced as 7,773.