Dec. 21, 2011

Box Score | AP Photo Gallery

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Vanderbilt controlled the action from the opening tip, cruising to an 89-58 win on Tuesday evening at Memorial Gym. The Commodores, who led Lafayette wire to wire in the contest, were paced by John Jenkins' 27-point effort.

Vanderbilt (8-4) opened with a 17-6 run on 7-of-9 shooting and never really looked back, pulling away for a 29-point victory. With 6:19 showing on the clock, Lafayette put together a 7-0 spurt, capped by Les Smith's pull-up trey, cutting the deficit to 26-15. Lafayette held the home side without a bucket for a little more than nine minutes of game action, before Jenkins connected on one of his game-high seven three-pointers at the 3:05 mark.

Lafayette (4-7) cut Vanderbilt's lead to eight points on a jumper from Rob Delaney, just before the Jenkins' triple, but the Commodores scored five straight to take a 39-24 lead into the break.

Five minutes into the second half, Ryan Willen's three-point play pulled Lafayette within 14 points, but Vanderbilt responded with a 17-5 run, pushing the lead to 26 points with 10:46 to play. Willen hit two three's surrounding Lance Goulbourne's layup to make it a 20-point game. Lafayette didn't get any closer.

Seth Hinrichs, three-time Patriot League Rookie of the Week, contributed a team-high 16 points and has scored in double figures in three straight games.

Lafayette returns to action on Dec. 28, hosting Monmouth at 7 p.m.

Notes:

Levi Giese made his first appearance for Lafayette since the season opener at La Salle.

J.D. Pelham scored his first points of the season, a jumper at the 18-minute mark of the second half.