Commodores on target in 102-62 exhibition win vs. Gold Rush

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Jeffery Taylor scored 17 points in 16 minutes, and seventh-ranked Vanderbilt shot exceptionally well to start both halves Monday in a 102-62 men's basketball exhibition victory against Xavier University of Louisiana.

Taylor, a second-team All-SEC guard/forward the past two seasons, scored 13 first-half points and finished 7-of-9 from the floor and 2-of-2 from the line with four rebounds and three assists.

Vanderbilt made 8-of-9 from the floor to start the game and 9-of-10 to start the second half. The Commodores led 58-32 at halftime, and they took their biggest lead, 87-43, on Kedren Johnson's two free throws with 10:16 remaining.

Johnson scored 16 points, John Jenkins 15 and Shelby Moats 15 for the Commodores, who will open their season at 9 p.m. Friday at home against Oregon. Thirteen of 14 Commodores scored, and none played more than 19 minutes.

Anthony Simmons and Wanto Joseph scored 11 points apiece for Xavier, ranked 21st in NAIA Division I, and Renard Smith scored nine, including two 3-pointers. Gil Mathieu, a sophomore walk-on playing for the first time this season, led the Gold Rush with five rebounds, all offensive.

Vanderbilt outshot Xavier 63.2 to 29.4 percent from the floor. The Commodores outrebounded the Gold Rush 41-20 and had a 12-4 advantage in made 3-pointers. Xavier was better at the line, however, making 28-of-35 free throws to Vanderbilt's 18-of-25. Joseph and Nick Haywood both made 6-fo-6 free throws for the Rush. Xavier committed 11 turnovers and gained 13.

XU junior Denzell Erves, announced earlier Monday as Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week, had eight points, four rebounds and two steals in a team-high 32 minutes.

It was the first time the Gold Rush allowed 100 points since a 103-53 exhibition loss at Texas on Nov. 6, 2006. Xavier has not allowed 100 points in the regular season since 1992-93.

The exhibition loss was Xavier's second on the road in three nights against an NCAA Division I opponent. The XU men will resume their regular-season schedule at 6 p.m. Friday against St. Thomas (Fla.) at The Barn.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

Doyle’s 30 points Not Enough In Howard's 80-55 Loss to Vanderbilt

Coach Niki Reid Geckeler

Howard will host Radford on Thurs. Nov. 18 beginning at 7 p.m. at Burr Gymnasium

NASHVILLE, TN – Saadia Doyle scored a game-high 30 points as the Howard University women’s basketball team fell to Vanderbilt (1-0), 80-55 in Nashville, Tenn. With the loss, the Lady Bison drop to 0-2 on the season. HU is back in action on Nov. 18 when it hosts Radford beginning at 7 p.m.

“I am pleased with Doyle’s overall performance this weekend,” said head coach Niki Geckeler.

Along with Doyle’s game high, she also pulled down a team-best 10 rebounds for her second-straight double-double of the season. The team was outrebounded 44-32, however. Cheyenne Curley-Payne pulled down five off the glass and dished out four assists.

Tamoria Holmes chipped in with nine points and a team-best five steals. HU outscored the Commodores 6-2 in fast-break points and had 12 points off 16 Vanderbilt turnovers.

“There is a lot of promise for the future,” said Geckeler. “We played with a lot of confidence in the second half.”

The Lady Bison dug themselves an early hole and trailed 49-22 heading into intermission. Howard came out strong in the second half with intesity and outscored VU 33-31, but could not break the Commodores double-digit advantage.

HU held Vanderbilt to just a 25 percent shooting clip (7-for-28), while hitting 13-of-32 for a 40.6 percentage from the floor.

The Lady Bison started the second stint with a 15-5 run over a five-plus span – capped by a Holmes triple – to make it 55-34 at the 14:23 mark. Unfortunately Howard would not get any closer than that as the Commodores pushed the spread to as many as 30 (74-44) with just over five minutes remaining in regulation.

For the game, HU hit 22-for-63 (34.9 percent) from the field, while Vandy finished 23-for-53 (43.4 percent).

The Commodores had four players reach double-figures with Stephanie Holzer leading the team with 20 points and 11 boards off the bench. Vandy’s bench outscored Howard’s bench 35-9. Christina Foggie had 14 points while Jasmine Lister and Angela Puleo finished with 13 and 11 points, respectively.

“We still have a lot of work to do,” said Geckeler. “We have to focus on defense and rebounding.”

Press Release
Jamilah Corbitt
Assistant Director of Sports Information
Howard University
howard-bison.com