College Corner: Belmont & TSU Players Named All-Conference, Vanderbilt Beats Ranked Kentucky

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Vanderbilt’s Jordan Wright Hits Game-Winner To Beat No. 23 Kentucky 68-66

Jordan Wright. Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

Vanderbilt’s fantastic season continues as they pick up their latest buzz-beater win against a top SEC rival after Jordan Wright hit a go-ahead jumper to take down No. 23 Kentucky 68-66 on Wednesday night for their first win at Rupp Arena since January 2007.

“Just happy about tonight, coming in and having something to play for this time of the year, beating the king at his house, it’s pretty special,” said Head Coach Jerry Stackhouse in a postgame press conference. “This is a big feat for us, not just to come in and beat them, but (beat them while they’re) probably playing as good of basketball as anybody.”

The surging Commodores (17-13, 10-7 Southeastern Conference) earned their seventh win in eight games and are 7-3 since losing to Kentucky 69-53 last month in Nashville. They trailed 26-21 late in the first half before leading 34-30 at halftime and 46-35 early in the second before withstanding Kentucky’s rally for a 66-64 advantage with 1:10 left on Oscar Tshiebwe’s layup.

Wright answered with a drive from the right wing to tie the game with 42 seconds left. After a missed Kentucky layup, Wright got free just inside the free throw line, stopped and fell back with the game winner.

Vandy finishes its regular season at Memorial Gym on Saturday, March 4 against Mississippi State before heading downtown next week for the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena.

 

 

 

Belmont Men’s Basketball Takes Home All-Conference Awards

Cade Tyson. Photo: Courtesy of Belmont Athletics

Belmont’s first season in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) has been one to remember as the team has won over 20 games and have multiple players receiving MVC All-Conference honors.

Ben Sheppard was named First Team All-MVC and MVC All-Defensive Team, Cade Tyson was named MVC Freshman of the Year, MVC All-Newcomer Team and MVC All-Freshman Team. Ja’Kobi Gillespie was named MVC All-Freshman Team and Drew Friberg was named MVC All-Newcomer Team.

Sheppard added to his reputation as one of the most complete players in college basketball. The 6’6 guard posted 28 double figure scoring games, including 12 games with 20 or more points. The first player in the conference named MVC Player of the Week three times this season, Sheppard was named to the Lou Henson Player of the Year Watch List and Paradise Jam All-Tournament Team.

The Atlanta, Georgia native will join select company upon his next score joining active players with at least 1,500 points, 400 rebounds, 200 assists and 100 steals.

Tyson burst on the scene from his opening game and delivered consistent production throughout the season. Earning ESPN SportsCenter Top Play honors for his game-winning shot in the season opener vs. Ohio, Tyson posted 24 double figure scoring games in leading the MVC in scoring among freshmen. The 6’7 forward scored a season-high 20 points vs. Missouri State and ranked among league leaders, in 2-point field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage.

The Bruins start their postseason on Friday, March 3 as the No. 4 seed in the MVC Tournament in St. Louis Missouri.

 

 

 

TSU’s Jr. Clay Named To Fifth Straight All-OVC Team

Jr. Clay. Photo: Courtesy of TSU Athletics

Tennessee State men’s basketball graduate student Jr. Clay has become the first player in Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) history to be named to his fifth All-OVC Team.

Clay, led the OVC in both scoring (18.8 ppg) and assists (5.6 apg) and had the highest single-game points with 40 vs. SIUE (Feb. 18). Clay also had 14 assists at SEMO (Jan. 26). Although he wasn’t named OVC Player of the Year, Clay may be the only player in league history to be honored five times.

The path to his fifth postseason honor started at Tennessee Tech, when he claimed second team and newcomer team as a freshman in 2019. He then went on to be selected for three more All-OVC honors before his final tally to the first-team as a graduate at Tennessee State.

Clay and the Tigers begin the OVC Tournament tonight (March 2) as they take on SEMO at 6:30 p.m. in Evansville, Indiana.

Steven Boero
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