MBB Closes Out Non-Conference Home Schedule With Win Over Alabama A&M, 86-47

Nine Commodores score in first half

	Jermaine Beal drives against Alabama A&M forward Mickell Gladness (40) in the first half. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Dec. 29, 2006

Box Score | Quotes

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Derrick Byars had 20 points to lead Vanderbilt to an 86-47 win over cold-shooting Alabama A&M on Friday night.

Vanderbilt (9-4) stretched its margin by shooting 11-of-25 from 3-point range, including 3-of-4 from the arc by Dan Cage for 11 points total. Jermaine Beal and Shan Foster each added 12 for the Commodores.

Alabama A&M (5-6) was held to 35 percent shooting from the field and hit only 1-of-14 3-point attempts. Trant Simpson led with 17 points.

Nine Commodores scored in the first half as Vandy built a 45-24 lead at the break.

Simpson did his best to keep A&M in the game with 13 first-half points, but his teammates combined for just 5-of-25 from the field in the period.

Vandy scored on its first four possessions of the second half, including two Byars' 3-pointers and another by Cage, to extend the lead to 56-24.

The Commodores stretched the lead to as much as 41 on two occasions in the second half, and out-rebounded A&M 46-28.

Vanderbilt center Alan Metcalfe played eight minutes and scored 4 points after missing 10 games with a broken foot he suffered Nov. 21 against Wake Forest.