National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Vanderbilt 77, Florida 67
When: 9:00 PM ET, Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Where: Memorial Gym, Nashville, Tennessee
Officials: # Patrick Adams, # Antinio Petty, # Mike Roberts
Attendance: 14316

VANDERBILT 77, NO. 13 FLORIDA 67: John Jenkins scored 22 points, and the Commodores outgunned the visiting Gators in a showdown for second place in the SEC.

The victory gives Vanderbilt (21-9, 10-5 SEC) a first-round bye in next week’s SEC Tournament in New Orleans, and moves the Commodores into a second-place tie with the Gators (22-8, 10-5 SEC) with one game left in the regular season.

The conference’s two best 3-point shooting teams traded long-range jumpers all night. Vanderbilt finished 12-for-24 from 3-point range, while the Gators went 8-for-24.

Kenny Boynton’s 3-pointer pulled the Gators within 68-64 with 4:04 to go, but a Jeffery Taylor free throw and two Brad Tinsley free throws put Vanderbilt ahead 71-64 with 3:12 remaining.

Down 71-65, the Gators forced a turnover but Erving Walker traveled with 1:14 left.

Jenkins, the SEC’s leading scorer, finished 6-for-9 from 3-point range. Taylor added 18 points, hitting four 3-pointers.

Bradley Beal scored 16 points (making three 3s) to pace the Gators, who have lost two in a row.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Vanderbilt came out flying on senior night, scoring the game’s first seven points and led 19-7 midway through the first half. … Down eight with five minutes left in the first half, Florida rallied to tie the game at 27-27 on Scottie Wilbekin’s 3-pointer with 1:17 remaining. … The Commodores end the regular season Saturday at Tennessee. The Gators host top-ranked Kentucky on Sunday.
Top Game Performances
 
Florida   Vanderbilt
Bradley Beal 16 Scoring John Jenkins 22
Erving Walker 3 Assists Brad Tinsley 4
Patric Young 8 Rebounds Jeffery Taylor 6
Bradley Beal 3 Free Throws Made Brad Tinsley 6
Bradley Beal 3 Steals Festus Ezeli 1
Bradley Beal 2 Blocks Festus Ezeli 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Florida 67 44.8 8-24 7-11 7 26 2 7 9
Vanderbilt 77 52.3 12-24 19-26 14 23 2 3 11