Commodores top Gators in overtime, advance to SEC semifinals

Vanderbilt Hustler
From looking like a bottom-tier SEC team just two short months ago to putting itself in the conversation for the NCAA tournament, Vanderbilt had already made an in-season turnaround as impressive as any in the program’s recent memory.
In sweeping the No. 17 Florida Gators Friday night and advancing to the SEC tournament semifinals, the turnaround is complete. Behind Riley LaChance’s 18 points and Jeff Roberson’s 16 points and eight rebounds, Vanderbilt claimed a 72-62 overtime win to likely lock up an NCAA tournament bid.
Florida had plenty of motivation Friday after losing both regular-season games to the ‘Dores, the latter of which came despite uncharacteristically poor three-point shooting by Vanderbilt. Friday’s game was a different story, as the Commodores lit it up from behind the arc in the first half and never slowed down.
Much like Thursday’s game against Texas A&M, Vanderbilt started off slow on offense. The ‘Dores had only five points through nearly seven-and-a-half minutes to begin the game, but threes by guards Matthew Fisher-Davis and Payton Willis kept the game close early.
Willis put together one of his best halves of the SEC season, nailing a second three before outfighting Florida forward Devin Robinson for a key defensive rebound. The freshman chipped in three assists to go with his six first-half points, and he didn’t commit a turnover.
The success of Florida’s small lineups in the teams’ game last weekend at Memorial Gym loomed as a potential advantage for the Gators, and White’s squad had success early with them. Small-ball center Keith Stone converted two baskets immediately after subbing in for starting center Kevarrius Hayes, and Vanderbilt struggled to keep up with Florida’s faster, more athletic lineup.
Nevertheless, Florida continued to run out lineups with a traditional center in Hayes. The ‘Dores took advantage, with Kornet freed up to ...


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