NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Jason Edwards led the Vanderbilt Commodores to an 85-76 victory over Southeast Missouri State on Sunday afternoon by scoring 17 points and contributing significantly at the free-throw line. Vanderbilt showcased remarkable prowess by converting 32 of their 41 attempts from the charity stripe, which proved crucial in resisting the Redhawks’ impressive 3-point shooting.

Southeast Missouri State, guided by BJ Ward who opened the scoring with a 3-pointer just 18 seconds into the game, tallied 12 successful shots from beyond the arc out of 25 attempts. Ward was particularly efficient, hitting 6 of 7 from distance, while TJ Biel contributed notably off the bench, making 4 of 6 attempts from 3-point range.

As the first half approached its conclusion, Devin McGlockton made one of two free throws, pushing Vanderbilt ahead 40-33 with just over a minute left. However, Biel hit a crucial 3-pointer with 39 seconds remaining, and Ward added a jump shot just before halftime, which narrowed the gap to 40-38.

Edwards proved to be a vital player for Vanderbilt, making 8 out of 9 free throws and finishing with 17 points. McGlockton had a solid performance, scoring 14 points and grabbing 19 rebounds, with an impressive 6 out of 9 from the free-throw line. Tyler Nickel chipped in with 11 points and 8 rebounds, while AJ Hoggard contributed 11 points as well, making 7 of 10 from the free-throw line.

On the other side, BJ Ward emerged as the standout for the Redhawks (0-2), finishing with 22 points and five assists. Teddy Washington Jr. added 19 points along with five rebounds, three assists, and two steals, while Biel rounded out the scoring with 12 points and six rebounds. Southeast Missouri State shot 44.4% overall, finishing 28 of 63 from the field.