By: Sean Cartell
Twitter: @SEC_Sean
SEC Digital Network
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NASHVILLE – Four Vanderbilt players scored in double figures and Coach Kevin Stallings earned his 400th career win Friday, as the 10th-seeded Commodores upset second-seeded Kentucky 64-48 at the Southeastern Conference Tournament at Bridgestone Arena.
Vanderbilt (16-16) advances to Saturday’s semifinal game where it will face the winner between Missouri and Ole Miss at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
The Commodores, the defending SEC Tournament Champions, were led by a team-high 12 points from Dai-Jon Parker. Kevin Bright chipped in 11 points, while Kyle Fuller and Kedren Johnson each added 10. Parker and Odom each brought down a team-high six rebounds.
Stallings, in his 20th season as a collegiate head coach now owns a career record of 400-238. He is in his 277-175 in 14 years at Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt torched the nets for a 50.0 percent (23-of-46) shooting percentage from the field and the Commodores also went 10-of-11 from the free-throw line. Kentucky shot 34.6 percent (18-of-52) from the floor.
Kentucky (21-11) was led by 12 points from Archie Goodwin and a game-high nine rebounds from Willie Cauley-Stein.
Series Notes:
All-Time Series: Kentucky leads 138-46
In SEC Tournament Games: Vanderbilt leads 5-4
Earlier this Season: Kentucky won twice, 60-58 in Nashville and 74-70 in Lexington
Game Notes:
• Leading 18-16, Vanderbilt got a 7-0 run to push the advantage to 25-16.
• The Commodores finished the half with a 10-2 run to make it 37-23 at intermission. VU shot 59.1 percent from the field, including 5 of 8 from three-point range, in the first half.
• VU made its first five shots of the second half to make the lead 48-27.
• Kentucky came back with a 10-0 run to pull within 48-37 but the Wildcats got no closer as VU maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way.
Vanderbilt Notes:
• Vanderbilt is 16-16 and the Commodores have won six of their last seven games.
• Vanderbilt made 50 percent of its field-goal attempts. It is the fifth time this season that the Commodores made at least half their shots.
• VU also shot 47.1 percent (8 of 17) from three-point range and was 90.9 percent (10 of 11) at the foul line.
• Vanderbilt had only five turnovers tonight. During the current stretch in which VU has won six of seven, the Commodores have averaged just 8.7 miscues per game.
• VU held Kentucky to 34.6 percent shooting. The Commodores are 8-0 this season when keeping the opponent under 36 percent from the field.
• Vanderbilt had balanced scoring as six players tallied at least seven points, led by Dai-Jon Parker with 12. Kevin Bright scored 11 and Kyle Fuller and Kedren Johnson added 10 each.
• Looking ahead to Saturday, Vanderbilt will play the winner of the Missouri-Ole Miss game.
o On Jan. 15, VU lost at home to Ole Miss, 89-79, in overtime.
o On Jan. 26, VU lost 81-59 at Missouri.
Kentucky Notes:
• Kentucky is 21-11.
• UK won the rebounding 32-30 and won second-chance points 20-9.
• The Wildcats were led by Archie Goodwin’s 12 points. Kyle Wiltjer added 10, making 4 of 5 shots.