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Vandy Moves On To Semis

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) --- John Jenkins scored 22 of his career-high 25 points in the second half, and No. 20 Vanderbilt held off Georgia 78-66 Friday night in the Southeastern Conference quarterfinals.

The Commodores (24-7) came in with only their third first-round bye since the SEC went to divisional play in 1992 as the East's No. 2 seed, and they managed to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2004 and just the second time in coach Kevin Stallings' 11 seasons.

A program that has only one SEC tournament title back in 1951 will play Mississippi State, the West's No. 1 seed, on Saturday. Jenkins hit 5 of 8 from 3-point range. Jermaine Beal also had 16 points and A.J. Ogilvy had 10 points.

Georgia (14-17) couldn't recreate the magic of 2008 with four wins in four days. Travis Leslie had a career-high 34 points, and Trey Thompkins had 13, all in the second half.

SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament Notes
 Georgia (#6 Seed-East) vs. Vanderbilt (#2 Seed-East)
Game 8, Friday, March 11, 2010, Tipoff: 8:45 pm CT

Vanderbilt 78 – Georgia 66 

With the win, Vanderbilt moves to 24-7 overall. The Commodores will advance to the semifinals of the SEC tourney, and face the Mississippi State (#1-West). Tipoff for the semifinal game is Saturday at 2:15 p.m., CT.

With the loss, Georgia concludes the season with a 14-17 record.

Vanderbilt Notes:
With the win, Vanderbilt moves to 30-47 all-time in SEC tournament play. The Commodores also are 5-1 all-time against Georgia in SEC tourney play. The win also moves to 2-2 all-time in SEC tourney action played in Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

The Commodores move into the semifinals of the SEC tournament for the first time since 2004, and for just their second semifinal appearance in 17 years.

The Commodores move to 29-48 all-time in SEC tournament play. Vanderbilt also moves to 4-2 against Georgia in SEC tourney play. The win moves Vanderbilt to 2-2 all-time in SEC tourney action played in Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

The victory also gives Vanderbilt a 2-1 edge in the season series against Georgia. The Commodores topped Georgia 96-94 in overtime on Feb. 25 in Nashville and dropped a 72-58 decision in Athens on Feb. 6.

    • John Jenkins set a career high with 25 points, including 22 points after intermission. He also made 5-of-8 from beyond the arc.     Jenkins also tied the Vanderbilt freshman record for 3-pointers made (69), shared by Shan Foster (2005) and Brad Tinsley (2009).
    • Walker finished with 10 rebounds, his fourth double-digit career rebounding total.
    • Point guard Jermaine Beal added 16 points.
    • Vanderbilt was 50% from 3-point range, hitting 9-of-18.
    • Vanderbilt out-rebounded Georgia 43-32. In both previous games between the teams, Georgia held the rebounding advantage.
    • Junior post A.J. Ogilvy hit his first three shots, and finished with 10 points.
    • At the 9:30 mark, Beal’s 3-pointer gave Vanderbilt a 7-point lead (20-13).
    • Beal’s 3-pointer capped a 7-0 Vanderbilt run, giving the Commodores a 30-25 lead with 3:33 left.
    • At halftime, Vanderbilt held a 28-15 advantage in rebounding.
    • Lance Goulbourne, returning after missing two games to injury, scored five straight points, including a 3-pointer with 12:16 left,     to push the Vanderbilt advantage to 47-40.
    • Jenkins gave Vanderbilt its largest margin (59-47) by a 3-pointer at the 8:22 mark. Jenkins scored 12 consecutive points at one     point in the second half.
    • Two foul shots with three minutes left gave Jenkins a new career high for scoring.

Georgia Notes:
With the loss, Georgia moves to 38-49 all-time in SEC tournament play. The Bulldogs also are 1-5 all-time against Vanderbilt in SEC tourney action. Georgia goes to 1-3 all-time in Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

With the loss, Georgia also drops the season series 1-2 with the Commodores. Georgia lost at Vanderbilt 96-94 in overtime on Feb. 25 in Nashville and won a 72-58 decision in Athens on Feb. 6.

    • Sophomore forward Travis Leslie finished with a career-high 34 points, including 18 in the second half. The total is tied for the     eighth most ever in a SEC tourney game.
    • Trey Thompkins, held scoreless in the first half, ended the game with 13 points.
    • The Bulldogs made 40.7% of their field goals.
    • Trailing 23-16, Georgia went on a 9-0 run sparked by two Leslie baskets to take a 25-23 lead with 5:39 left in the half.
    • Leslie paced the Georgia attack entering halftime with 16 points. The rest of the squad had 11 total points.
    • Thompkins was 0-of-6 from the field in the first half. Thompkins’ first basket came at the 19:06 mark. He added another basket     with 18:19 left to cut the Commodore lead to 35-33.
    • Leslie topped his season high in points (23) at the 16:00 mark. His personal high (22) came vs. Vanderbilt on Feb. 25.