No. 16 Kentucky picks up SEC road victory, handling Vanderbilt

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The last time Kentucky was in Nashville, the Wildcats were bounced from the 2013 Southeastern Conference tournament by Vanderbilt in a game that cost them a chance to play in the NCAA tournament.

The Wildcats had to wait 10 months, but they got their revenge with a 71-62 win over the Commodores at a sold-out Memorial Gym on Saturday afternoon.

The Commodores, playing with just sevenscholarship athletes after the recent dismissal of leading-scorer Eric McClellan, gave a strong effort against its first nationally ranked opponent of the season.

But in the end, the depth and skill of No. 14 Kentucky (12-3, 2-0 SEC) proved to be too much for the Commodores to overcome.

Seven-foot sophomore Willie Cauley-Stein led the Wildcats with 15 points. Freshman twins Aaron (14) and Andrew (10) Harrison also scored in double-digits for Kentucky.

Freshman center Damian Jones was a bright spot for the Commodores, earning his first career double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Guards Kyle Fuller (17 points, 10 assists) and Dai-Jon Parker (17 points on 7-of-10 shooting) also were significant contributors.

Rod Odom, the Commodores' leading scorer (13.8 per game), was limited to just five points in 22 minutes. After picking up his fourth foul with 17:46 remaining, the senior did not re-emerge until the 9:39 mark.

Kentucky led 30-22 at half, with the Commodores matching the Wildcats with 10 made baskets but losing ground at the free-throw line (UK 7-for-8, VU 0-for-4).

Wildcats forward Alex Poythress, who played at Northeast, was called for a technical foul for delay of game after a dunk to push the Kentucky lead to 60-47 with 5:49 remaining. The sophomore finished with nine points coming off the bench.

Vanderbilt (8-6, 0-2) next will host Missouri on Thursday (6 p.m., ESPN2).

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Nick Cole also writes for The (Nashville) Tennessean.