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Vanderbilt tries to lock up second place in the SEC

Mar 3, 2007 - 2:45 PM Arkansas (17-12) at No. 23 Vanderbilt (20-9) 1:00 pm EST

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Vanderbilt can lock up second place in the East Division of the Southeastern Conference with a victory over Arkansas on Saturday.

The No. 23 Commodores (20-9, 10-5 SEC East) have won two games in a row to move a game in front of Tennessee and Kentucky for second place.

Shan Foster scored 33 points and star guard Derrick Byars hit two 3-pointers in overtime and finished with 18 points as Vanderbilt beat South Carolina, 99-90, on Wednesday.

Arkansas (17-12, 6-9 West) began the season 13-3 but has struggled in league play, but is still only one game out of first place in the underachieving SEC West.

The Razorbacks won their last game, 67-58, over Mississippi State on Wednesday behind 20 points from guard Gary Ervin.

While the Commodores already have a spot in the NCAA tournament locked up, Arkansas will probably have to run the table in the SEC tournament to avoid the NIT.