NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)—Derrick Byars had 19 points and nine rebounds to help Vanderbilt overcome cold shooting and defeat crosstown Lipscomb 59-50 on Thursday night.
Vanderbilt (4-3) and Lipscomb (6-3) were meeting for the first time since 1955.
The Commodores shot just 36.5 percent for the game, but outscored the Bisons 17-5 from the free thrown line.
Vanderbilt led most of the first half, and went up 17-11 on Shan Fosters dunk with 9:44 left in the half. From there, the Commodores went cold, hitting just two of their next 16 shots to end the half.
Meanwhile, the Bisons went on a 16-4 run to end the half, and built a second-half lead of 30-23 when Eddie Ard nailed a 3-pointer from the left corner at the 18:14 mark.
Vanderbilt finally made its move with 9:21 left when George Drake hit a 3-pointer from the left corner, snapping a string of 12 consecutive Vandy misses behind the arc and tying it at 38.
Derrick Byars followed with another 3 for the lead, and Williams answered with a layup.
The Commodores went on an 8-0 run to put the game away for good. Ross Neltner hit a field goal, Byars added a 3, Neltner added two foul shots, and Drake another for a 49-40 lead.
Vanderbilt built the lead to 57-43 with 1:22 remaining, and Lipscomb never got closer than the final margin.
Neltner added 13 points for Vanderbilt, and Ard (14) and Trey Williams (10) had double figures for Lipscomb.
