The 2022 National Invitation Tournament tipped off Tuesday with a battle between Vanderbilt men’s basketball and Belmont at Memorial Gymnasium.
The Commodores defeated the Bruins 82-71.
Vanderbilt improved to 18-16 overall with the victory. Jordan Wright led the Commodores in scoring with 24 points. Vanderbilt advances to the second round of the NIT, where it will play the winner of a first-round matchup between Dayton and Toledo, which tip off at 6 pm CT Wednesday in Toledo, Ohio.
Belmont’s season comes to an end with the Bruins falling to 25-8 overall with the loss. Will Richard led Belmont in scoring with 22 points.
Check out the top plays from the game below.
Vanderbilt 82, Belmont 71:Commodores hold off pesky Bruins, advance to NIT second round
Jerry Stackhouse:‘Vulgar’ encouragement from Vanderbilt basketball coach lit a fire vs. Belmont in NIT
Estes:The backyard NIT game was fun. Vanderbilt and Belmont need to do this more often
Belmont basketball’s Ben Sheppard dishes to Will Richard for fast-break bucket
Belmont cut Vanderbilt’s lead to 64-61 on a fast-break bucket from Will Richard, who was assisted by a long pass from Ben Sheppard.
Vanderbilt basketball’s Jordan Wright knocks down 3-pointer
Vanderbilt basketball took a 64-56 lead over Belmont on a 3-pointer from Jordan Wright.
Vanderbilt basketball’s Tyrin Lawrence drills jumper in transition
Vanderbilt stretched its lead over Belmont to 59-54 in the first half on a jump shot by Tyrin Lawrence in transition.
Vanderbilt basketbalextends lead vs. Belmont with put-back layup from Quentin Millora-Brown
Vanderbilt stretched its lead to 51-46 over Belmont in the second half on a put-back layup from Quentin Millora-Brown.
Belmont Basketball Retakes Lead vs. Vanderbilt with 3-pointer from Ben Sheppard
Belmont took a 41-39 lead against Vanderbilt early in the second half with a 3-pointer from Ben Sheppard.
Vanderbilt basketball takes first lead vs. Belmont on buzzer-beating jumper from Quentin Millora-Brown
Vanderbilt took a 39-38 lead against Belmont into halftime thanks to a put-back jumper from Quentin Millora-Brown to beat the first-half buzzer.
Belmont basketball’s Luke Smith knocks down 3-pointer vs. Vanderbilt
Belmont extended its lead over Vanderbilt to 35-31 late in the first half on a 3-pointer from Luke Smith.
Vanderbilt basketball cuts into Belmont’s lead with 3-pointer from Tyrin Lawrence
Vanderbilt cut Belmont’s lead to 28-21 in the first half when Tyrin Lawrence buried a corner 3-pointer.
Belmont basketball extends lead vs. Vanderbilt with basket by Michael Shanks
Belmont stretched its lead over Vanderbilt to 24-14 in the first half when Michael Shanks made a running floater off an assist from Grayson Murphy.
Vanderbilt basketball’s Scotty Pippen Jr., Myles Stute connect for alley-oop
Vanderbilt cut Belmont’s lead to 17-12 early in the first half when Scotty Pippen forced a Bruins turnover and connected with Myles Stute for a thunderous alley-oop.
Vanderbilt basketball’s Scotty Pippen Jr. hits step-back jumper vs. Belmont
Vanderbilt cut Belmont’s lead to 7-4 early in the first half on a step-back jumper from Scotty Pippen Jr.
Here’s more Vanderbilt, Belmont basketball news
Jerry Stackhouse is the Vanderbilt men’s basketball head coach. Casey Alexander is the Belmont men’s basketball head coach.
www.tennessean.com
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism