AP News, December 31st, 2007
No. 15 Vanderbilt got out to the best start in school history Monday, beating Iona 97-73 behind A.J. Ogilvy's 20 points and nine rebounds. Shan Foster added 20 points, and Alan Metcalfe scored 14 for Vanderbilt (13-0), which won its first 12 games in 2003-04 and advanced to the regional semifinals of the NCAA tournament.
Vanderbilt is one of six unbeaten Division I teams. North Carolina, Memphis, Kansas, Washington State and Mississippi are the others.
Gary Springer led Iona (5-9) with 17 points, and Devon Clarke added 15 points and four rebounds for the Gaels.
The Commodores were the first ranked opponent Iona has faced this season, and it showed. First-year Iona coach Kevin Willard and his Gaels were outmatched, but they took advantage of Vanderbilt's defensive lapses to keep it close early.
The Commodores' defense struggled against another inferior opponent, allowing Iona to shoot 49 percent from the field.
The Gaels scored 41 points in the first half — more than they had in a 67-37 loss Saturday at Louisville.
The Commodores still managed to lead 46-41 at the break, leaning on their high-powered offense to supply the cushion. The 97 points were their most this season, topping the previous high of 95 against Bradley.
A 26-5 spurt by the Commodores to begin the second half stretched their lead to 72-46, turning a competitive game into the expected blowout.
That didn't appease Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings, who added a few extra foot stomps than usual to show his displeasure.
Stallings is the first to admit his Commodores' record — and ranking — is deceiving.
Last week, he said Vanderbilt was "the most overrated team in America" after it rose to No. 15, the program's highest ranking since 1993.
Vanderbilt's struggles have resembled a familiar pattern.
The Commodores built a lead, watched it dissolve, then allowed a lesser opponent stay close longer than expected. Vanderbilt will get its first true test of the season when Southeastern Conference play begins next week.
