NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)—Jermaine Beal and A.J. Ogilvy scored 20 points each and Vanderbilt opened the Southeastern Conference/Big East Invitational by beating South Florida 71-52 Tuesday night to hand Commodores coach Kevin Stallings his 300th career victory.
Ogilvy also grabbed 13 rebounds and Jeffery Taylor finished with nine points as Vanderbilt (7-3) won its second straight. The Commodores grabbed the lead for good on a George Drake layup at 9-7 with 13:05 left in the first half and led 28-22 at halftime.
South Florida (3-5) lost its fourth straight game in the first of a four-game road trip.
Mobolaji Ajayi fouled out for South Florida with 14:13 left when he was called for his fourth foul, then slammed the ball to the court for a technical.
Dominique Jones led the Bulls with 19 points off the bench. Augustus Gilchrist added 12 and Mike Mercer had 10.
