Vanderbilt basketball upsets TCU 81-78 in Big 12/SEC Challenge

Riley LaChance and Jeff Roberson simply won't let their senior year fade quietly.

Winding down one of Vanderbilt's most disappointing seasons in several years, the pair gritted its teeth and carried the Commodores to an 81-78 upset win over TCU in the Big 12/SEC Challenge Saturday at Memorial Gym.

LaChance and Roberson combined for 44 points, continuing their recent hot streak since fellow senior Matthew Fisher-Davis was lost for the season to a shoulder injury.

More:Vanderbilt basketball five-star signee Simi Shittu tears ACL

"(Our defensive focus) was really those two guys, and those two guys beat us," TCU coach Jamie Dixon said. "So what we said we wanted to do, we didn't do."

LaChance scored 24 points with four 3-pointers, and Roberson had 20 points with three 3-pointers in the best win of Vanderbilt's season. TCU (15-6) entered the game ranked No. 16 in NCAA RPI after just falling out of both Top 25 polls this week.

Vanderbilt (8-13) now has two of its top three wins this season in its past two home games, including a victory over LSU (RPI 88) a week ago.

"We are not looking at our record. We are playing to get better and to build a program," Vanderbilt coach Bryce Drew said. "There was a great celebration in the locker room afterward because we've been working hard."

LaChance's clutch 3-pointer broke a 76-76 tie with 1:17 remaining. TCU answered with a basket to cut Vanderbilt's lead to 79-78. Clevon Brown then pulled down a critical offensive rebound of Saben Lee's missed shot in the lane, and LaChance was fouled  with 10.8 seconds remaining.

LaChance made both foul shots, and TCU missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer.

"It's a reflection of (LaChance's) character," Drew said. "Obviously, this is a tough time for our team. But he had a decision to make — which way to go from there — and it's just the strong upbringing he has, the strong character he has, the will to be successful.

"Those things have kicked in to the highest level I have seen in him."

Vanderbilt made 8 of 9 free throws. TCU did not attempt a foul shot in the game.

"It's hard to get zero free throws because I've never been a part of it," Dixon said. "I thought there were some fouls that didn't get called. But there were some on their end, too."

Roberson and LaChance had scored 46 points in each of the previous two games versus LSU and Tennessee, picking up the slack from Fisher-Davis' absence. They combined for 17 of Vanderbilt's 31 field goals in this one.

"Our record doesn't show who we are, the character of this team," Roberson said. "We wanted to get a little bit better, and it finally showed off."

Lee added 11 points for Vanderbilt. Kenrich Williams led TCU with 17 points.

Another new lineup

Vanderbilt used its 11th different starting lineup in 21 games this season. Starters included two seniors (Roberson, LaChance) and three freshmen (Lee, Maxwell Evans, Ejike Obinna).

It was Evans’ fifth career start, as he filled in for the injured Fisher-Davis. Obinna, a 6-10 center, also made his fifth start, but his first in SEC play.

Up next

Vanderbilt will play Kentucky at Rupp Arena at 8 p.m. CT Tuesday on ESPN. The Commodores lost 74-67 to Kentucky at Memorial Gym on Jan. 13.

Reach Adam Sparks at asparks@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamSparks.