• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Jenkins leads No. 18 Vanderbilt past NC State

Nov 20, 2011 - 4:56 AM East Rutherford, NJ (Sports Network) - John Jenkins had 28 points and hit a big three-pointer late in the contest to help No. 18 Vanderbilt take an 86-79 win over North Carolina State in the championship round of the Legends Classic.

Jeffrey Taylor had 17 points and his tip-in shot with just over two minutes to play put the Commodores (3-1) up for good.

Vanderbilt, which has won its past two after dropping a game to Cleveland State this past Sunday, advances to play Oregon State in the final on Monday.

Richard Howell had 16 points and nine rebounds, while Lorenzo Brown added 13 points, six assists and four rebounds for the Wolfpack (3-1), who lost for the first time under Mark Gottfried.

The game was close throughout and five straight points from the Wolfpack capped on a Howell slam put the team up, 75-74, with 3 1/2 minutes to play.

After Jenkins and DeShawn Painter exchanged baskets, Taylor put in a layup to give the Commodores a 78-77 advantage.

Brown then missed a three-pointer with Steve Tchiengang grabbing the defensive board. Jenkins countered with a three-ball for an 81-77 lead with just over a minute to play.

From there, NC State went to fouls with Vanderbilt hitting its free throws and the Wolfpack unable to make any baskets.

The Commodores scored the first six points of the game, but North Carolina State was able to keep it close, despite never taking the lead in the first half.

Tinsley's three-pointer to close the first half gave Vanderbilt a 49-45 lead at the break and things stayed close throughout the second half.

Game Notes

Vanderbilt has won three of the four meetings with North Carolina State...Vanderbilt connected on 51.9 percent of its shots, while the Wolfpack shot 50 percent...Vanderbilt edged North Carolina State on the boards, 36-34.