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CLEVELAND — Vanderbilt basketball’s season ended Friday with a 59-56 first-round loss to seventh-seeded Saint Mary’s, denying the 10th-seeded Commodores an NCAA Tournament victory that would’ve been the program’s first since 2012.
Here are some postgame takeaways from Rocket Arena:
Even as the Commodores led most of the way, climbing in front by 12 early in the second half, this was a physical, defensive slog that always figured to benefit the Gaels.
Ultimately, it did.
Vanderbilt missed two potential game-tying 3-pointers in the final seconds to fall just short.
A prominent Saint Mary’s stat entering this game: It was 24-0 when scoring 70 points. That’s because its well-respected defense kept opponents from reaching 70 in 28 of 33 games. It's the brand of game Saint Mary’s preferred, and it was unlike what Vanderbilt has wanted this season.
Perhaps predictably, the Gaels made a rally in the second half that allowed them to inch ahead. Wasn’t the first time this season that the Commodores have struggled to make a lead stick in the second half, but the culprit here was a horribly timed offensive slump just when it seemed they might be about to pull away for good.
Instead, a 9-1 run by Saint Mary’s came as Vanderbilt struggled to do anything offensively, going about five minutes without a field goal as the Gaels finally heated up. With 6:54 remaining, they took the lead for the first time since the game’s opening minutes.
After struggling to make shots early, Saint Mary’s was 5-for-9 from 3-point range after halftime, and it was the difference in the game.
Vanderbilt has achieved plenty this season because of coach Mark Byington’s offense. This afternoon, though, was more about highlighting its defense.
It produced one of its best defensive performances of the season, trapping and harassing Gaels shooters from the jump. At halftime, Vanderbilt’s 29-22 lead had a lot to do with a 10-0 edge in points off turnovers — and Saint Mary’s 35% shooting clip, including a 2-for-16 mark from 3-point range.
Vanderbilt, though, didn't take advantage offensively, It was only 3-for-13 from long range in the first half, leaving a sense that someone was going to start getting and making perimeter shots in the second half to seize a tightly contested game.
Someone did.
On a day where Vanderbilt’s offense rarely looked comfortable against a strong Saint Mary’s defense, Edwards still stepped up.
With 18 points on 8-for-18 shooting, Edwards was the lone Commodores player to score in double figures, proving a difficult cover for the Gaels, much as he had been for opponents in the SEC.
He says he coming back to Vandy next season, by the way.
Saint Mary’s was whistled for only four fouls in the first half, but they were important fouls. Starting guard Augustas Marciulionis and center Mitchell Saxen each had two early fouls and exited the game before returning prior to halftime.
Marciulionis, the Gaels’ leading scorer and the West Coast Conference player of the year, picked up his fourth on an offensive foul with 16:03 remaining, forcing him to the bench with only six points at the time. He returned with 8:48 to play. Saint Mary’s, to its credit, had fared well without him, cutting the deficit to 42-40.
Meanwhile, Saxen — who stands 6-foot-10 and was the WCC defensive player of the year — picked up two fouls in the first 5:35 of the game, forcing him to the bench for a brief time. He returned, however, at the 10:40 mark, with Gaels coach Randy Bennett opting to take the risk and bolster his team’s height advantage. Their starting front line went 6-10, 6-8 and 6-6, as opposed to the Commodores, who didn’t have anyone on the roster taller than 6-8 (and famously have all players listed as point guards).
Saint Mary’s did outrebound Vanderbilt 41-28.
And Marciulionis did drill some big shots late when he got back into the game.
Vanderbilt’s Grant Huffman returned for the NCAA Tournament after missing the previous three games with an ankle injury. The Commodores had gone 0-3 without him, losing to Arkansas, Georgia and then to Texas in the SEC Tournament.
Showing no apparent limitations, Huffman played early and drained one of Vanderbilt’s three 3-pointers in the first half.
Props to Mr. C, who brought the A game to the Big Dance. Vanderbilt’s mascot destroyed counterpart The Gael from Saint Mary’s in an on-court dance-off during a game timeout. After Mr. C went first with an array of moves, The Gael barely even tried to match it, waving the white flag quickly. Well done, Mr. C.
Reach Tennessean sports columnist Gentry Estes at [email protected] and hang out with him on Bluesky @gentryestes.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt basketball couldn't get by Saint Mary's in March Madness
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Here are some postgame takeaways from Rocket Arena:
This was never Vanderbilt’s type of game
Even as the Commodores led most of the way, climbing in front by 12 early in the second half, this was a physical, defensive slog that always figured to benefit the Gaels.
Ultimately, it did.
Vanderbilt missed two potential game-tying 3-pointers in the final seconds to fall just short.
A prominent Saint Mary’s stat entering this game: It was 24-0 when scoring 70 points. That’s because its well-respected defense kept opponents from reaching 70 in 28 of 33 games. It's the brand of game Saint Mary’s preferred, and it was unlike what Vanderbilt has wanted this season.
Perhaps predictably, the Gaels made a rally in the second half that allowed them to inch ahead. Wasn’t the first time this season that the Commodores have struggled to make a lead stick in the second half, but the culprit here was a horribly timed offensive slump just when it seemed they might be about to pull away for good.
Instead, a 9-1 run by Saint Mary’s came as Vanderbilt struggled to do anything offensively, going about five minutes without a field goal as the Gaels finally heated up. With 6:54 remaining, they took the lead for the first time since the game’s opening minutes.
After struggling to make shots early, Saint Mary’s was 5-for-9 from 3-point range after halftime, and it was the difference in the game.
A nod to the defense
Vanderbilt has achieved plenty this season because of coach Mark Byington’s offense. This afternoon, though, was more about highlighting its defense.
It produced one of its best defensive performances of the season, trapping and harassing Gaels shooters from the jump. At halftime, Vanderbilt’s 29-22 lead had a lot to do with a 10-0 edge in points off turnovers — and Saint Mary’s 35% shooting clip, including a 2-for-16 mark from 3-point range.
Vanderbilt, though, didn't take advantage offensively, It was only 3-for-13 from long range in the first half, leaving a sense that someone was going to start getting and making perimeter shots in the second half to seize a tightly contested game.
Someone did.
And a nod to Jason Edwards
On a day where Vanderbilt’s offense rarely looked comfortable against a strong Saint Mary’s defense, Edwards still stepped up.
With 18 points on 8-for-18 shooting, Edwards was the lone Commodores player to score in double figures, proving a difficult cover for the Gaels, much as he had been for opponents in the SEC.
He says he coming back to Vandy next season, by the way.
Foul trouble didn’t stop Gaels star
Saint Mary’s was whistled for only four fouls in the first half, but they were important fouls. Starting guard Augustas Marciulionis and center Mitchell Saxen each had two early fouls and exited the game before returning prior to halftime.
Marciulionis, the Gaels’ leading scorer and the West Coast Conference player of the year, picked up his fourth on an offensive foul with 16:03 remaining, forcing him to the bench with only six points at the time. He returned with 8:48 to play. Saint Mary’s, to its credit, had fared well without him, cutting the deficit to 42-40.
Meanwhile, Saxen — who stands 6-foot-10 and was the WCC defensive player of the year — picked up two fouls in the first 5:35 of the game, forcing him to the bench for a brief time. He returned, however, at the 10:40 mark, with Gaels coach Randy Bennett opting to take the risk and bolster his team’s height advantage. Their starting front line went 6-10, 6-8 and 6-6, as opposed to the Commodores, who didn’t have anyone on the roster taller than 6-8 (and famously have all players listed as point guards).
Saint Mary’s did outrebound Vanderbilt 41-28.
And Marciulionis did drill some big shots late when he got back into the game.
Familiar face returns for Commodores
Vanderbilt’s Grant Huffman returned for the NCAA Tournament after missing the previous three games with an ankle injury. The Commodores had gone 0-3 without him, losing to Arkansas, Georgia and then to Texas in the SEC Tournament.
Showing no apparent limitations, Huffman played early and drained one of Vanderbilt’s three 3-pointers in the first half.
And one more thing . . .
Props to Mr. C, who brought the A game to the Big Dance. Vanderbilt’s mascot destroyed counterpart The Gael from Saint Mary’s in an on-court dance-off during a game timeout. After Mr. C went first with an array of moves, The Gael barely even tried to match it, waving the white flag quickly. Well done, Mr. C.
Reach Tennessean sports columnist Gentry Estes at [email protected] and hang out with him on Bluesky @gentryestes.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt basketball couldn't get by Saint Mary's in March Madness
Continue reading...
