Weekend sweep: Vandy topples Vols twice in Nashville

By TERESA M. WALKER

AP Sports Writer

NASHVILLE (AP) — Jason Edwards scored 18 points as Vanderbilt held off No. 6 Tennessee 76-75 on Saturday for the Commodores’ second straight win.

Fans stormed the court for the first sellout at Memorial Gym since 2019 after the Commodores (15-3, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) won for only the second time in the last 14 games of this series.

Jaylen Carey added 14 for Vanderbilt. Tyler Nickel had 13 and AJ Hoggard 11.

Mark Byington, Vandy’s fourth different coach to face off against Rick Barnes during his 10 years with the Vols, matched the lone win by Jerry Stackhouse and Bryce Drew each. Only Kevin Stallings (2-1) left Vandy with a winning mark over Barnes’ Vols.

Tennessee (16-2, 3-2) now has lost two of its first three SEC road games. Chaz Lanier led Tennessee with 17 points, and Zakai Zeigler, Igor Milicic Jr. and Felix Okpara each had 17.

The Vols had a chance to force overtime. Lanier made his first free throw with 2.8 seconds left but missed the second.

Takeaways

Tennessee: The Vols gave up more than 70 points for the second time this season and have lost both games. That’s with Vanderbilt going scoreless over the final 3:48.

Vanderbilt: The Commodores had no issues inside despite not having the size Tennessee does. They outrebounded the Vols 29-25.

Key moment

When Tennessee pulled within 41-40 to start the second half on a 3 by Milicic, the Commodores responded with four straight 3s with Nickel’s fourth 3 of the game putting Vandy up 53-40 with 16:39 left. They led by as much as 16.

Key stat

The Vols scored the final nine points of the game. It wasn’t enough.

Up next

Tennessee returns home to host No. 15 Mississippi State on Tuesday night.

Vanderbilt visits No. 4 Alabama on Tuesday night.

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WOMEN

Vandy 71, Lady Vols 70

NASHVILLE (AP) — Mikayla Blakes scored 23 points and tipped in a missed shot at the buzzer as Vanderbilt rallied last in a 71-70 victory over No. 15 Tennessee on Sunday.

The Commodores (15-4, 2-3 Southeastern Conference) took a 54-45 lead into the fourth quarter before the Lady Volunteers (15-3, 3-3) staged a comeback.

Jewel Spear hit back-to-back 3-pointers for Tennessee to tie the game at 57-all. The Lady Vols took the lead on a three-point play by Samara Spencer and Spear’s two free throws that made it 64-59 with 2:55 to go. Iyana Moore hit a 3-pointer and a jumper and Blakes and Khamil Pierre both made two free throws in a 10-4 spurt to put the Commodores on top 69-68.

Tennessee took the lead on a Ruby Whitehorn layup with four seconds left.

Vanderbilt beat Tennessee for just the 11th time in 90 games and won at home in the series for the first time since Jan. 12, 2014.

Blakes entered play leading all freshmen with 360 points. Pierre made 12-of-14 foul shots, scoring 21 with eight rebounds. Moore totaled 17 points and six rebounds to help end Vanderbilt’s three-game slide.

Taylasia Cooper scored 20 to lead Tennessee. Zee Spearman totaled 13 points and 11 rebounds for her second double-double this season. Spencer and Spear both scored 10 with Spencer adding six assists.

Blakes had 10 points for Vanderbilt and Cooper scored 10 for Tennessee in a 21-all first quarter. Pierre had seven points in the second quarter for the Commodores, outscoring the Lady Vols all by herself in forging a 37-26 lead at halftime.

Up next

Tennessee: The Lady Vols travel to play No. 7 Texas on Thursday.

Vanderbilt: The Commodores will host Arkansas on Thursday.