Dec 5, 2001

Box Score

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (December 5, 2001) - Matt Freije and Chuck Moore each scored 18 points and Vanderbilt held off a second-half charge Wednesday by winless Southeast Missouri State to win 76-71.

Vanderbilt (6-2), winning its fourth straight game, saw an 18-point second-half lead dwindle to three with 18 seconds left. But Moore sank five of six free throws down the stretch to secure the win.

Southeast Missouri State (0-5) was led by freshman Brett Hale, who scored a season-high 22 points, including three 3-pointers. Teammate Demetrius King had 17 points off the bench and Derek Winans scored 11.

For Vanderbilt, freshman Brian Thorton had a season-high 11 rebounds off the bench to go with four points.

Vanderbilt shot just 27 percent in the first half in building a 28-25 lead, missing 12 of its final 13 shots before halftime. In the second half, the Commodores hit nine of their first 11 shots while building a 58-40 lead.

Southeast Missouri State gradually rallied behind Hale and Winans but could never erase the Vanderbilt lead. Head Coach Gary Garner was proud of his team for holding their own against a tough Vanderbilt team.

"My kids played hard, and we had great effort," he said. "At one point in the first half, I looked out and saw four freshmen holding their own. I was proud of the effort. Vanderbilt is a good team, very well coached. Freije just killed us in the second half. Down the stretch, he really hurt us."

Next Up for the Indians will be a home match against Division II North Alabama Saturday night at 7:30 in the Show Me Center.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.