Vanderbilt Uses 21-0 Second Half Run to Defeat College of Charleston 70-53 1/2/03

The Vanderbilt Commodores (7-4) used a 21-0 run to erase a five point halftime deficit to defeat College of Charleston (10-3) 70-53 Thursday night at Memorial Gym. Matt Freije and Corey Smith led the Commodores with 17 points apiece.

Whatever happened in the Vanderbilt locker room at halftime proved to be the best medicine for the ailing Vanderbilt offense. The team that played the first half with 12 turnovers and shot 33 percent from the field was not the same team that returned for the second stanza.

After having trouble in the first half getting the ball inside, Freije connected on the first play of the second half with an easy bucket at point-blank range. But the real fireworks started a few minutes later when Smith nailed a three-pointer with 12:49 remaining in the game to cut the Cougars' lead to three at 38-35. On the next possession sophomore David Przybyszewski bombed a three-ball of his own. Then on the very next possession Smith made it three three-pointers in a row as he sank another long range bomb to give Vanderbilt the first lead of the game at 41-38.

Those three-pointers would be the beginning of an incredible 21-0 run that put the game away.

Junior guard Scott Hundley "had by far his best game of the season" according to head coach Kevin Stallings. It was Hundley's six points, four rebounds, and an astounding five assists that keyed Vanderbilt to the huge run. But it was Hundley's defense on the Cougars' Troy Wheless that got Stallings' attention.

Freije seemed to carry the team on his back as he provided vocal and athletic leadership during the Commodores' sub-par first half. Every time the Commodores needed a bucket Freije was there to bail out the 'Dores.

Freije added, "It was good to show the younger guys and remind some of us older guys how to win."

Also having a big game was Przybyszewski as he was perfect from the floor, while going 4-4 and connecting on one three-pointer.

The Commodores return to action as they open the SEC season on the road at Auburn on Wednesday January 8th at 7 pm.

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