Morgan State University Athletics

Box Score

Bracket

ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands (Nov. 23, 2013) -Justin Black scored a game-high 18 points and Ian Chiles fell shy of a double-double with 15 points and a game-high nine rebounds, but it wasn't enough, as Morgan State fell to Vanderbilt 75-66 on Saturday in a loser's bracket game of the Paradise Jam Tournament.

Vanderbilt (3-2), which never trailed in the contest, was led by Kyle Fuller, who came off the bench to score a team-high 16 points, grab six rebounds and dish out five assists. Damian Jones added 13 points and Eric McClellan had 12.

The two teams traded baskets back-and-forth early on, before a trey at the top of the key from Morgan State's Kyle Thomas evened the score at 9-9. The Bears would then trail between three and five points, before Vanderbilt used a 10-0 run over the next four minutes to take a 30-17 advantage.

Black, who also had a game-high five steals to go along with a game-high tying five assists, knocked down a three-pointer to end the run and make it a 30-20 game with 4:16 remaining in the opening half.

The Commodores then closed out the half on 7-2 spurt to take a 37-22 halftime lead over Morgan State.

Anthony Hubbard knocked down a three-pointer from the left corner in part of a 10-2 Morgan State run to start the second half and bring the Bears within 45-37 with 15:56 left in the game.

A three-pointer by Blake Bozeman brought Morgan State within six points at 59-53 with 6:46 left, but the Commodores would not relinquish the lead.

Vanderbilt's Luke Kornet, who came off the bench to score 11 points, answered Bozeman with a three-pointer of his own to push the lead back to nine points. Two free throws by McClellan capped off a 12-6 run by Vanderbilt to extend its lead to 71-59 with 2:26 remaining.

Morgan State (0-6) would not go away, using a quick 7-0 run to pull within 71-66 with a 1:07 left in the game. That would be as close as the Bears would get, as Vanderbilt sealed the deal hitting four straight free throws for the win.

Free throw shooting and Vanderbilt's first half run, proved to be too much for the Bears to overcome. The Commodores, who shot 10 more free throws than Morgan State, went 15-of-32 (46.9 percent) at the line, while Morgan State was 13-of-22 (59 percent).

The Commodores also held a 43-41 rebounding advantage with Dai-Jon Parker and Kornet each adding six boards to join Fuller as the team high. Hubbard and Black chipped in with eight and six rebounds, respectively.

Vanderbilt outscored Morgan State 42-30 in the paint and received production out of its bench, which outscored the Bears, 35-11. The Bears had a 14-10 advantage in fast break points and 17-10 in points off of turnovers.

Chiles recorded three of Morgan State's five blocked shots against the Commodores, giving him eight blocks in two games.

Morgan State will wrap up the 2013 Ezybonds U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam on Monday, Nov. 25 when it takes on Marist at 2:30 p.m. The Red Foxes (0-6), who like Morgan State are searching for their first win of the season, are coming off a 76-70 loss to Loyola Marymount on Saturday.