Led by a 25-point performance by senior point guard Jermaine Beal, No. 21 Vanderbilt rallied for an 85-76 victory over No. 14 Tennessee, extending its perfect start in Southeastern Conference play to 5-0 and giving them 10 straight wins overall.

 

"It was a hard fought game, a very good game," said Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings. "It was a great game to win, a great second half by our team."

 

The Commodores (16-3, 5-0) won for the first time in Knoxville since January 8, 2005 and snapped a two-game losing streak to the rival Volunteers (15-4, 3-2), who swept them last season. They also won for the first time when ranked this season.

 

This time, they showed they belonged with a composed effort that never allowed Tennessee to get away from them. The Vols led 35-31 at the break, the fourth time in five SEC games the Commodores trailed at halftime, but once again the second half belonged to them.

 

After trailing 51-45 after a lay-up by Tennessee's Skylar McBee with 13:37 remaining, Vanderbilt went on a 29-9 run over the next 8:37, keyed by Beal, who hit three 3-pointers in the second half and had 18 points after the break.

 

He scored eight points in a one-minute period on a jumper and two 3-pointers, the last of which gave the Commodores a 74-60 lead the Vols couldn't overcome.

 

"I thought Beal was absolutely spectacular in the second half and I am really proud of him," Stallings said. "That was a terrific game for him."

 

Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl wondered why Beal doesn't get more attention from outsiders as a standout player.

 

"Beal's always been the guy that makes that team go," Pearl said. "He was dominant, and he was focused."

 

The Volunteers got within eight several times down the stretch but could get no closer as the Commodores closed it out on the line, hitting 7 of their final 8 free throws.

 

Junior A.J,. Ogilvy had 12 points, and sophomores Brad Tinsley and Jeff Taylor had 10 apiece.

 

A strong effort on the boards helped Vanderbilt as well with a 41-37 advantage in rebounding, and the Vols struggled shooting down the stretch. After hitting 5 of their first 10 3-point attempts, they hit just 1 of their last 10 and shot just 44 percent, a stark contrast to Vanderbilt’s 17-30 (57 percent) performance after the break.

 

"Both teams played hard and we feel fortunate to win," Stallings said.

 

Dating to last season, the Commodores have won eight consecutive conference games, including four on the road. Over the last three season, they went 7-17 in SEC road play but are 3-0 this year.

 

J.P. Prince led the Vols with 22 points.

 

It was a chippy, physical game with 46 foul calls and three technicals assessed. The crowd booed loud and often as the game was stopped on several occasions, and many exited before the final buzzer, too frustrated to see the Volunteers lose for the first time in 11 games this year at home.

 

Vanderbilt was already shooting the bonus minutes into both halves.

 

"As we have been able to do thus far in league play, we caused some foul problems," Stallings said. "I thought that paid some dividends down the stretch of the game."

 

The Commodores travel next to Lexington on Saturday to face top-ranked Kentucky, who lost its first SEC game on Tuesday to South Carolina.