Auburn falls short at No. 19 Vanderbilt

A.J. Ogilvy scored 19 points to lead No. 19 Vanderbilt to a 78-71 victory over Auburn on Saturday.

The Commodores snapped a two-game losing streak and won for the first time in two weeks. Vanderbilt (18-3 overall, 3-4 in Southeastern Conference play) led by 14 points in the first half, but Auburn charged back in the second half, chopping the deficit to 63-62 with 6:35 remaining on two free throws by Frank Tolbert.

Jermaine Beal answered for the Commodores, scoring seven straight points, including two baskets off steals. Ogily also scored inside, keeping Vanderbilt ahead 72-62 with 4:20 to go.

Tolbert canned a 3-pointer with 2:16 to go, making it 72-66, but the Tigers (12-8, 2-5) got no closer. Tolbert, who scored a career-high 32 points, tossed in 11 in the first 4:59 of the first half, including three 3-pointers, to cut Vanderbilt's lead to 42-38.

Later, a basket by Quan Prowell and a three-point play by Quantez Robertson chopped Vanderbilt's lead to 45-43 with 13:34 remaining.

Vanderbilt's Shan Foster, the team's leading scorer, came alive after scoring only three points in the first, sinking back-to-back 3-pointers and adding another basket, keeping the Commodores in front, 55-47, with 11:08 left.

Ogilvy sparked Vanderbilt to its early lead, scoring 13 points in the first half against Auburn's undersized frontline. The Tigers made only two of their first 16 shots and made eight of 35 (23.1 percent) in the first half.

Beal tossed in a 3-pointer just inside the halfcourt line to beat the halftime buzzer, giving the Commodores their 12-point lead at the break. Alex Gordon added 17 points for Vanderbilt, while Foster scored 16.

Auburn returns to action Wednesday against Kentucky at Beard-Eaves Coliseum.