NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Jason Edwards made a substantial contribution to Vanderbilt’s success by scoring 14 of his 18 points during the second half, while Devin McGlockton added another 16 points, leading the Commodores to an 85-69 triumph over California on Wednesday evening.

Vanderbilt, now 3-0, has impressively tallied over 80 points in three games this season, a feat they accomplished only twice throughout the entire previous season. This marks the first time the Commodores have started a season with three consecutive victories since the 2019-20 campaign.

The team demonstrated exceptional defensive skills, recording 18 steals, their highest in a single game since 1998, just two shy of the program’s record from 1994. Both Grant Huffman and AJ Hoggard led the charge with four steals each.

In the first half, Vanderbilt shot an impressive 62% from the field, though they struggled with long-range shooting, hitting only 2 out of 11 attempts from beyond the arc. This strong shooting performance allowed them to establish a 49-31 advantage by halftime, with 11 of their steals translating into 20 points off turnovers.

As the game progressed, California managed to reduce the deficit to 61-52. However, Vanderbilt’s defense came alive, forcing turnovers in consecutive plays, which led to fast-break layups by MJ Collins Jr. and Tyler Tanner, extending their lead back to 13 points. Tanner contributed significantly with 14 points and later increased the lead to 68-52 by knocking down a 3-pointer a few minutes later.

For California, Andrej Stojakovic led the scoring with 17 points, accompanied by BJ Omot with 15 points, DJ Campbell adding 12, and Jovan Blacksher Jr. contributing 11. California’s start to the season was their best since the 2019-20 season, with a record of 2-1.

The Commodores’ strong performance showcases their potential as they continue to build momentum this season.