Belmont Bruins at Vanderbilt Commodores

Vanderbilt wins its home opener, tops Belmont 80-66

Kornet led Vanderbilt with 20 points and played a strong defensive game against the Bruins' top player in the Commodores' 80-66 win Tuesday night. 

Matthew Fisher-Davis added 16 points and first-year coach Bryce Drew won first game at Vanderbilt (1-1) after replacing Kevin Stallings, now at Pittsburgh. 

"I thought we did a good job defensively of contesting every shot," Kornet said. "That's something we really emphasized. Just getting a hand up, the difference that it can make sometimes." 

Vanderbilt won its 10th consecutive home opener, improving to 58-7 all-time. 

Kornet made 12 of 16 foul shots and the Commodores hit 25 of 31.

"It started with Luke," Drew said. "He was a warrior out there. You guys all know he's not playing at 100 percent." 

"Three blocks, it felt like he had about 15," the 6-foot-7 Bradds said. "That height difference was big and his arms are long." 

Belmont coach Rick Byrd was impressed by Kornet's defense. 

"Evan is normally 10 for 15," Byrd said. "I don't think we're going to face many guys that can alter his shot as easily as Luke did." 

Teammate Amanze Egekeze scored 18 and Taylor Barnette had 11. Vanderbilt made 9 of 18 shots from 3-point range. 

Vanderbilt's Jeff Roberson and freshman Payton Willis both scored 10. Willis was pressed into duty when Riley LaChance suffered a second-half ankle injury. 

Vanderbilt jumped out to a 36-21 halftime lead, hitting six of its first nine shots from beyond the 3-point arc. 

The Bruins missed 17 of their first 18 shots from 3-point range. Belmont has the second-most 3-pointers nationally since 1995 when it moved from the NAIA to the NCAA. Only Duke has more. 

Vanderbilt improved to 5-0 against Belmont, located 2 miles away. 

TURNING POINT 

Belmont cut the gap to 62-58 with 6:50 left, but Fisher-Davis' four-point play gave the momentum back to Vanderbilt. He hit a 3-pointer and foul shot with 6:18 left.

MISSING STAR 

Belmont played its first game without Craig Bradshaw, who graduated last spring with 1,698 career points and led the Bruins to two NCAA tournaments and two NIT tournaments. 

BIG PICTURE 

Belmont: Coach Rick Byrd was concerned about his defense in the preseason, but his long-range shooters let him down, hitting just 9 of 41 from 3-point range against Vanderbilt. 

Vanderbilt: The Commodores proved they could play defense under their new coach after allowing 95 points, the most since a 2003 loss to Kentucky, in Friday's season-opening loss to Marquette. 

UP NEXT

Belmont plays its home opener against Western Kentucky on Saturday before facing another Southeastern Conference team, Florida, on Monday. 

Vanderbilt hosts Norfolk State on Friday in the second of a three-game homestand.  

How can I watch Belmont vs. Vanderbilt?

• TV Channel: Belmont at Vanderbilt 2021 College Basketball, week 2, is broadcasted on SEC Network.
• Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo Free trial.
  Try Vidgo for free.