Commodores can’t catch Bearcats in Maui opener

Jermaine Beal scored a team-high 16 points but Vanderbilt trailed virtually the entire way and lost 67-58 [1] to Cincinnati in the first round of the EA Sports Maui Invitational on Monday.

Vanderbilt (2-1) started the day with the news that it was No. 24 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 [2].

Hours later, though, the Commodores got off to a terrible start against Cincinnati (3-0). They made just one of their first 14 field goal attempts and trailed 22-6 at the mid-point of the first half.

A.J. Ogilvy was the only VU player who made a field goal in the first 13:54. He started out 3-for-3 while the rest of the team was a combined 0-for-14. He also made three free throws and accounted for nine of his team’s first 14 points

Beal finally snapped that streak when his jump shot made it 27-16.

Vanderbilt trailed 36-24 at halftime and got no closer than eight points (three times) over the final 20 minutes.

Ogilvy finished with 13 points. Jeffery Taylor and John Jenkins each added 11. Jenkins made three of VU’s five 3-pointers (on 19 attempts).

The Commodores’ only lead of the contest was at 2-0 following a pair of Beal free throws 45 seconds after the opening tip.

Yancy Gates led Cincinnati with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

VU now can finish no better than fifth in the event and will face the loser between Maryland and host Chaminade at 12:30 p.m. (CST) Tuesday in a second-round matchup.