Jan. 7, 2006
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Shan Foster hit six three-pointers and scored 20 points as Vanderbilt beat Auburn 74-50 in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams Saturday.
Julian Terrell added 13 points for Vanderbilt (10-2, 1-0), which won its fourth straight home game. DeMarre Carroll and Derrick Byars chipped in 10.
Freshman Quantez Robertson and Frank Tolbert led Auburn (8-4, 0-1) with 12 points and Ronny LeMelle scored 11.
Foster entered the game shooting just 33 percent from three-point range over his last three games and Vanderbilt collectively had been in somewhat of a shooting slump, but Foster hit six of his first eight threes and keyed a second-half run that put Vanderbilt in control.
Vanderbilt had not shot above 44 percent from the floor in its last four games and was shooting 31 percent from three, but the Commodores regained their shooting touch against the Tigers. Vanderbilt shot 53 percent from the floor, including 60 percent (12-for-20) from three. The Commodores committed just six turnovers.
Vanderbilt led 36-32 early in the second half, then went on an 18-5 run to take a 53-37 lead with 12:43 to play. From there, Vanderbilt pushed the lead past 20 with 9:52 to play and was never threatened thereafter.
Auburn is 0-4 on the road and 8-0 at home.
Auburn had three freshmen in the starting lineup making their SEC debuts, with two more key freshmen coming off the bench. Auburn's five freshmen combined for 21 points.
Vanderbilt improved to 44-10 in SEC home-openers in Memorial Gym.