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SEC Basketball: Breaking down Vanderbilt’s upset win at No. 21 Florida

By Daniel Benjamin

Dec 21, 2016; Dayton, OH, USA; Dayton Flyers guard Kyle Davis (3) defends a shot by Vanderbilt Commodores guard Matthew Fisher-Davis (5) in the second half at the University of Dayton Arena. The Flyers won 68-63. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2016; Dayton, OH, USA; Dayton Flyers guard Kyle Davis (3) defends a shot by Vanderbilt Commodores guard Matthew Fisher-Davis (5) in the second half at the University of Dayton Arena. The Flyers won 68-63. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 21, 2017; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators guard KeVaughn Allen (5) takes a fall during the first half of an NCAA basketball game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 21, 2017; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators guard KeVaughn Allen (5) takes a fall during the first half of an NCAA basketball game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Vanderbilt picked up their second true road win with a 68-66 SEC basketball upset victory over the 21st ranked Florida Gators on Saturday.

Nolan Cressler scored Vanderbilt’s final four points, and Riley LaChance ran out the clock after grabbing a long rebound off a last second three-point miss, as the Commodores came away with a 68-66 victory over No. 21 Gators on Saturday.

Cressler, who made a pair of free throws to give Vanderbilt (9-10, 3-4 SEC) a 66-63 lead, made a baseline driving layup to put the Commodores up five with 36 seconds remaining. Kasey Hill answered right back for the Gators with a driving layup of his own to cut the deficit to 68-66 with 29 seconds to go. Florida decided not to foul and KeVaughn Allen got a steal off a deflected pass by Luke Kornet, who was trying to get the ball to the opposite corner.

Following the steal, Allen tried to push the ball up the court but the Commodores deflected the ball out of bounds. Allen then got the inbounds pass and used a step-back to create room. His fallaway three-point attempt with 4.2 ticks left hit the back of the rim and LaChance came down with the board to secure the win.

Vanderbilt ended a four-game losing streak and now has won two-straight in Gainesville for the first time since 1991. The Commodores have won the last three meetings overall between the programs and leads the all-time series 68-63.

“It’s been a tough stretch,” Vanderbilt first-year coach Bryce Drew said. “We have lost a lot of close games. Our guys came out with a lot of energy today in a great environment.”

Matthew Fisher-Davis led four Vanderbilt players in double-figures with 19 points. Kornet and LaChance each added 11 points while Cressler finished with 10. Jeff Roberson had a game-high eight rebounds. John Egbunu and Justin Leon also collected six boards.

Vanderbilt shot 46.0 percent (23-of-50) from the floor and 40.0 percent from beyond the arc (10-of-25) for the game. The Commodores also were 12-of-13 from the free throw line.

Allen led the way for Florida (14-5, 5-2) with a season-high 29 points. Devin Robinson was the only other Gator in double figures with 12 points, and he tied a team-high with six rebounds.

Florida shot 45.6 percent from the field (26-of-47) though just 32.0 percent from beyond the arc (8-of-25). The Gators also attempted only eight free throws, making six.

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