NCAAB Game Recap - Liberty at Vanderbilt
Mon Nov 19, 2018 8:00 PM EST

Duke
90
SDSU
64
F
Gonz
84
Ill
78
F
CBU
55
Nev
90
F
StFPA
76
UNC
101
F
Aub
88
Xav
79
F(OT)
Mizzu
67
KSU
82
F
Canis
61
FSU
93
F
AzSt
72
MissSt
67
F
Akr
69
Clem
72
F
Presb
65
UCLA
80
F
SDSt
80
Tul
84
F
KennSt
81
E KY
100
F
UGA
80
IlSt
68
F
UCIrv
65
UTSA
56
F
Hartfo
65
UtVal
72
F
ODU
53
NrthIA
54
F
JackSt
60
SHSU
75
F
Iona
85
LongB
86
F
StBon
65
GASt
75
F
UL
91
ColSt
73
F
BGSU
81
Hamp
79
F
OrSt
74
Penn
58
F
AF
62
HiPt
69
F
LoyIL
82
Rich
66
F
UTRGV
64
ECU
69
F
RobM
81
Stetsn
72
F
E MI
36
Rut
63
F
(N/A)
47
Oakl
91
F
MOSt
62
Nebras
85
F
PVAM
66
UNCG
74
F
ArkPB
60
UMass
92
F
(N/A)
47
DelSt
80
F
Bingha
68
Colg
76
F
StJon
82
Cal
79
F
Copp
67
Rider
87
F
Longw
39
UNCC
42
F
NCAT
71
Marsh
95
F
ChiSt
61
ETSU
86
F
W MI
52
Cin
78
F
(N/A)
62
Albany
79
F
Toled
90
FlGlf
62
F
Bois
82
Crei
94
F
(N/A)
49
ChaSo
98
F
LoyMD
63
Detr
91
F
ArkLR
78
Tuls
88
F
(N/A)
40
Lamar
105
F
NWSt
55
Hou
82
F
Eccle
72
ORU
109
F
Lib
70
Vand
79
F
How
69
SIU
83
F
SEMO
58
USA
79
F
UMBC
52
SDak
58
F
UtSt
80
StMar
63
F
CAPoly
70
WaSt
84
F
BC
88
Wyo
76
F
(N/A)
59
UTEP
66
F
Ariz
71
IaSt
66
F
(N/A)
60
IdaSt
115
F
TxTch
78
USC
63
F
Temp
51
VCU
57
F
LewCl
57
Portl
77
F

Nov 19, 2018, 8:00 PM EST

Final

1

2

T

Liberty

33

37

70

Vanderbilt

37

42

79

Vanderbilt's Garland rebounds big in Vandy's win
Mon Nov 19, 2018 11:26 PM

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Darius Garland followed a career low with a career high.

The freshman point guard scored a career-high 33 points one game after being held to three as Vanderbilt won a battle of unbeaten teams with a 77-70 victory over Liberty on Monday night.

It was the second-most points ever scored by a Vanderbilt freshman, trailing only the 34 scored by Mike Rhodes against Virginia Tech in 1977.

"I thought I wasn't as aggressive in the last game as I was tonight," Garland said. "The last game they told me I need to be more aggressive and that's what I did."

Alcorn State focused its defense on containing Garland in Vanderbilt's win Friday, but Liberty (3-1) couldn't stop him as he hit 12 of 18 from the floor, including five 3-pointers.

"He's as good as I've seen in a while," said Liberty coach Ritchie McKay, a former Virginia assistant. "He won't be around long. He's really special."

Garland, an NBA prospect, was a McDonald's All-American and five-star prospect at nearby Brentwood Academy last season.

"Darius can take over a game," McKay said. "He has the ability to affect the game without scoring a point, but also can take over from an aggressive scoring standpoint into the teeth of a lot of defenses and he did that against us."

It was the most points scored by an SEC player this season.

"I think the beauty about him is that he can control a tempo by scoring or not scoring and that's a very special trait that he has," Vanderbilt coach Bryce Drew said. "(Liberty) really smothers the roller in their half-court defense and they're going to give you more 3's. As the roller was covered, I thought Darius did a good job making 3's."

Garland's backcourt partner, Saben Lee, added 17 points.

Vanderbilt's Matt Ryan, a Notre Dame transfer, scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds. He was ejected after a flagrant foul with 5:21 left.

Liberty cut the deficit to 46-45 with 11:20 left, but Vanderbilt (4-0) pulled away with an 18-2 run.

Lovell Cabbil led Liberty (3-1) with 16 points, Darius McGhee had 15 and Scottie James added 12 in front of a crowd of 8,493 at Memorial Gym. James is 15 for 17 from the floor in the last three games.

Vanderbilt capped an 11-0 run late in the first half with an alley-oop pass from Garland to Lee, who finished with a dunk for a 34-27 lead. Garland waved his arms above his head in encouragement to the Commodores' student section after the play.

Garland and Lee connected on a similar play in a season-opening win over Winthrop.

Liberty's Caleb Homesley, who scored a season-high 16 points in Friday's win over Kent State, was held to two points on a 1-for-6 shooting night.

Vanderbilt's Simi Shittu had eight rebounds and eight points.

Liberty won its first three games for its best start since 1999.

POSTSEASON POTENTIAL

It's way too early to predict the NCAA Tournament field, but McKay believes Vanderbilt is on the right track. "I know what an NCAA Tournament team looks like and I'd be hard-pressed to think that they they're not going to be playing in The Dance," McKay said.

MISMATCH

The Flames fell to 0-9 against Southeastern Conference teams. Vanderbilt improved to 17-0 against the Big South, including a win over Winthrop in the season opener.

BIG PICTURE

Liberty: The Flames finally cooled off after winning their first three games as the Commodores pulled away late.

Vanderbilt: Garland regained his scoring touch and played a high-speed game with Lee.

UP NEXT

Liberty hosts Alcorn State (1-3) in the first of a two-game homestand Friday.

Vanderbilt hosts Kent State (3-1) on Friday in the third of a four-game homestand.

---

More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

Leaders

Liberty PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
L. Cabbil Jr. 16 0 0 1 1 1
D. McGhee 15 0 0 3 3 1
Vanderbilt PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
D. Garland 33 0 4 4 1 0
S. Lee 17 0 2 3 2 0

Team Comparison

Lib Vand
Points For 70 79
Field Goals 27/62-44% 26/52-50%
Three Pointers 7/26-27% 9/18-50%
Free Throws 9/16-56% 18/28-64%
Offensive Rebounds 7 10
Defensive Rebounds 22 29
Rebounds 31 44
Blocks 3 4
Steals 8 6
Turnovers 11 15
Personal Fouls 21 16
Technical Fouls 1 2
Ejections 0 0

2018-19 Reg Season - Vand Leads Series 1-0

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Mon Nov 19 Lib 70 @ Vand 79 L. Cabbil Jr. 16 D. Garland 33

Game Information

Stadium: Memorial Gym, Nashville, Tennessee
Attendance: 8,493
Game Time: