Blue Demons  54    Commodores  67

DePaul (5-1) at Vanderbilt (5-1)

Sports Network | December 5, 2009

GAME NOTES: The DePaul Blue Demons of the Big East Conference and the Vanderbilt Commodores of the SEC will collide this afternoon in Nashville.

DePaul has won its last three games to move to 5-1 overall, and the most recent triumph came over Alabama State on Wednesday by a 58-50 final. The fact that no opponent has scored more than 57 points against the Blue Demons in a regulation game this season speaks to the strength of the club's defense. The lone loss came against Tennessee back on November 22nd by four points.

As for Vanderbilt, it has recorded three consecutive victories to move to 5-1 overall. The team is coming off an impressive 89-83 triumph over Missouri of the Big 12, and the team beat Arizona of the Pac-10 in its previous outing. Clearly, SEC competition will yield consistent challenges for Vandy, which figures to be in the upper half of the league standings this season.

Vanderbilt has won both previous meetings with the Blue Demons, including a 91-85 decision two seasons ago.

DePaul is generating 59.3 ppg on 40.4 percent shooting from the field, but that modest output is overshadowed by the fact that team is allowing 54.8 ppg to opponents on 37.7 percent field goal efficiency. Will Walker and Mac Koshwal are clearly the two best players on the roster for the Blue Demons. Walker has started all six games thus far, and he is generating 17.3 ppg. As for Koshwal, he brings 15.0 ppg and 13.0 rpg to the court, but a foot injury has sidelined him for the last three games and perhaps for another month. DePaul averages fewer than 10 turnovers per contest, impressive to say the least. What isn't impressive is the team's 55.6 percent shooting from the foul line. Walker scored 21 points for DePaul in Koshwal's absence to beat Alabama State on Wednesday. The Blue Demons overcame their own 36.7 percent shooting from the floor by limiting Alabama State to 32.7 percent efficiency.

Strong defense has been the key to Vanderbilt's solid start, as the team is holding foes to 67.7 ppg on 39 percent shooting from the field. Jermaine Beal is the top scorer for the Commodores, as he is netting 15.3 ppg. Jeffery Taylor checks in with 15.0 ppg, and he is grabbing 7.5 rpg as well. A.J. Ogilvy rounds out an impressive trio with 13.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg and 14 blocks. Vandy is generating 77.7 ppg on 47 percent field goal efficiency. Against Missouri on Wednesday, Ogilvy had his second consecutive game of 20-plus points, as he poured in a season-high 25 points from his center position. The big man got plenty of help from his teammates, as three other player reached double figures. Taylor posted 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Beal posted 15 points. As for John Jenkins, he provides 11 points off the bench for Vandy, which shot 50 percent from the field and earned a 47-26 rebounding advantage, two major reasons it was able to force 24 turnovers.

Expect a narrow win for Vanderbilt tonight. The Blue Demons simply don't have the size to match up with the Commodores on the interior, especially with Koshwal.

GAME NOTES: The DePaul Blue Demons of the Big East Conference and the Vanderbilt Commodores of the SEC will collide this afternoon in Nashville.

FACTS & STATS: Site: Memorial Gym (14,168) -- Nashville, Tennessee. Television: None. Home Record: DePaul 3-0, Vanderbilt 2-0. Away Record: DePaul 0-0, Vanderbilt 1-0. Neutral Record: DePaul 2-1, Vanderbilt 2-1. Conference Record: DePaul 0-0, Vanderbilt 0-0. Series Record: Vanderbilt leads, 2-0.

Saturday, December 5th, 4:00 p.m. (et)

Vanderbilt 74, DePaul 67