CHARLESTON, S.C. – Tyler Nickel showcased his skills by sinking six 3-pointers, matching his career best with 24 points, helping Vanderbilt secure a 76-60 victory over Seton Hall during the semifinals of the Charleston Classic on Friday.
Vanderbilt, now boasting a perfect record of 6-0, is set to face Drake in the championship game after Drake triumphed over Florida Atlantic with a score of 75-63. Meanwhile, Seton Hall, who fell to 3-3, will go up against Florida Atlantic in the consolation matchup.
Nickel’s impressive shooting night included making 8 of 16 overall and 6 of 13 from beyond the arc, contributing to the Commodores’ 27 attempts from three-point range, of which they converted 10. Devin McGlockton supported the team with 13 points, while Jason Edwards chipped in 10. Vanderbilt’s overall shooting percentage reached 52%, and they capitalized on Seton Hall’s 16 turnovers to score 19 points.
For Seton Hall, Isaiah Coleman was the standout performer, scoring 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting, which included four successful 3-pointers. Chaunce Jenkins, known for his remarkable performance in the previous game where he scored 22 points in the second half against VCU, struggled this time, finishing with just three points and nine rebounds before fouling out. The Pirates managed a low shooting percentage of only 37%.
Nickel was instrumental in the early stages of the second half, nailing two 3-pointers and accumulating 10 points in the first five minutes. This scoring burst helped Vanderbilt establish a significant lead, with a 9-0 run pushing their advantage to 21 points midway through the period.
The first half saw a competitive battle, but Vanderbilt broke the deadlock with an 11-0 run while Seton Hall struggled to find their rhythm, going just 1 of 11 during that stretch. Nickel’s earlier efforts helped him score 14 points in the first half, including four 3-pointers.
As the first half concluded, Seton Hall received a fortunate opportunity when AJ Hoggard fouled Dylan Addae-Wusu while he attempted a three-quarters-court shot at the buzzer. Addae-Wusu made all three free throws, bringing the score to 38-28 at halftime.