Tyrin Lawrence's clutch steal, bucket lift Vanderbilt past Florida

Field Level Media|published: Sat 9th March, 19:08 2024

Mar 9, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores guard Tyrin Lawrence (0) drives to the basket against Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium. credits: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Tyrin Lawrence stole an inbound pass and scored the game-winning layup with 15 seconds left in his final Vanderbilt home game, and the Commodores stunned the Florida Gators 79-78 Saturday in Nashville, Tennessee.

With Florida (21-10, 11-7) leading 78-75 on two free throws by Zyon Pullin with 35 seconds to go, Vanderbilt cut it to one on two free throws by JaQualon Roberts with 24 seconds left.

Lawrence then intercepted the inbound feed and drove the lane for the winning hoop.

Florida then turned over the ball in the final four seconds, and the Commodores (9-22, 4-14) won for just the third time in the past 10 games.

In the final 5:59, the Commodores outscored Florida 20-11.

Vanderbilt's Ven-Allen Lubin totaled 25 points, 11 rebounds and two steals. Lawrence had 14 points, seven rebounds and two assists.

Entering the game sixth in the SEC, the Gators received 20 points, eight assists and five boards from Pullin. Tyrese Samuel scored 16 points, while Walter Clayton Jr. had 14. Alex Condon had 11 points and eight rebounds.

A 10-point favorite in the regular-season finale, the Gators won the first meeting 77-64 in Gainesville two weeks ago and appeared to be ready to capture the rematch.

Clayton, Florida's leading scorer at 17.1 points per game, netted five of the Gators' first seven points and the visitors led 11-6 at 16:01 after Samuel sank a jump shot.

Clayton remained sharp by scoring 11 points in the game's first 8:39, including 3 of 5 from beyond the arc.

Over the final 6:24 of the first half, Florida flexed its muscle by building a 12-point lead and outscoring the home side 11-7 for a 39-32 advantage at the break.

Clayton and Pullin both scored 11 in the half. Lubin paced the Commodores with 11 despite the club shooting just 26.5 percent (9-for-34) from the field.

In a tight second half, Vanderbilt grabbed a 45-43 lead on Tasos Kamateros' layup, but Condon's block of Lawrence's dunk attempt led to Pullin's conventional 3-point play for a one-point lead at 14:09.

-Field Level Media