Vanderbilt basketball squeaks by Wofford in nail-biter

Vanderbilt basketball coach Jerry Stackhouse doesn't like fouling while leading by three. But the Commodores ended up there anyway after guard Trey Thomas was called for a foul with two seconds left.

Vanderbilt center Liam Robbins − who scored 14 points and nine rebounds but somewhat struggled defensively − came to the rescue, rebounding the missed second free throw and making 1-for-2 at the line to ice a key win.

Forced to play without wing Jordan Wright due to a back injury, the Commodores (4-4) beat Wofford 65-62 on Saturday at Memorial Gymnasium.

Vanderbilt led for most of the first half but let Wofford (5-4) back in with a 10-0 run at the start of the second half.

.After back-and-forth for the rest of the period, both teams struggled to score in the final few minutes, but the Commodores were eventually able to put the game away.

Four Vanderbilt players scored in double figures: Robbins, guard Tyrin Lawrence (13 points), forward Myles Stute (11 points) and guard Ezra Manjon (11 points). After Robbins, freshman Lee Dort was next with six rebounds.

"It's really tough playing without Jordan," Stute said. " ... Somebody that does so much for us on both ends of the court. We really just got to bring everything we can without him. He just brings a lot of firepower to our lineup offensively, defensively. So some of the things are, key on just playing better defense, sitting those gaps."

Fast start

Vanderbilt got off to an early lead thanks to Myles Stute's 3-point shooting and held that lead throughout the first half. While the period started in a frenzy, it ended with both teams on scoring droughts, the Commodores for three minutes and Wofford for four-and-a-half.

But the Commodores gave up a 10-0 run out of halftime which led to Wofford taking its first lead of the game. Shortly after halftime, forward Stute picked up his fourth foul. He sat a large portion of the second half and didn't provide the same spark on offense when he returned. All 11 of his points came in the first half. But Thomas picked up the slack from deep, scoring all eight of his points in the second half.

"They stepped up and made plays for their team, but we withstood it and found a way to hold on," Stackhouse said. " ... But of course, we're gonna make it a little bit tougher than it needs to be. And that's just kind of our way right now."

Robbins found success in the midrange game offensively, but he also struggled to defend Wofford's BJ Mack, an undersized center and good shooter who drained several open threes. Mack led Wofford with 19 points, though Stackhouse said he was satisfied with the looks Vanderbilt gave Mack, he just happened to make more than expected.

WBB INJURIESHow Vanderbilt women's basketball is coping with losing three starters for the season

WRIGHT, LEWIS OUTVanderbilt basketball: Jordan Wright, Paul Lewis out vs. Wofford with injury

Offense sans Wright

Vanderbilt primarily utilized an eight-player rotation with Manjon, Lawrence, Robbins, Stute, Thomas, center Quentin Millora-Brown and forwards Colin Smith and Lee Dort. Forwards Malik Dia and Emmanuel Ansong also saw time. Without Wright as a go-to option, the offense was more balanced.

"I felt like we could be a team to have about six guys average eight (points)," Stackhouse said. "I think we got that type of balance that ... on average over the season, we could be a special team that we're we have that many guys who are capable of putting up eight points a game for us, that means that we're sharing it."

The two teams put up similar offensive stats. Both had the same number of turnovers and assists, and the Terriers won the rebounding battle. But Vanderbilt shot slightly better and most notably made eight threes to Wofford's six, providing the difference in the game.

Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on Twitter @aria_gerson.