UNC Wilmington @ Vanderbilt preview

Vanderbilt opened its season with five victories in its first six games under new coach Jerry Stackhouse, but the Commodores are slumping entering Saturday’s home contest against UNC Wilmington. The Commodores have dropped three of their past four games after a 78-70 setback on Wednesday versus Loyola Chicago at the Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase in Phoenix as the lack of an inside presence again cost Vanderbilt on both ends of the floor.

The Commodores played for the first time since senior forward Clevon Brown was lost indefinitely to a knee injury, and Vanderbilt was outscored 46-32 in the paint while being outrebounded 33-32. “We just have to find a way to take away something,” Stackhouse told reporters after, referencing his defense allowing Loyola Chicago to shoot 56 percent from the field, “and it’s tough to win at any level when a team shoots like that.” Sophomore forward Aaron Nesmith continued his strong start with 23 points, and the SEC’s leading scorer enters the weekend averaging 22.4. The Seahawks have averaged 58.3 points during their current four-game losing streak, falling 72-63 on Monday against Mercer.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, No TV

ABOUT UNC WILMINGTON (5-7): Sophomore guard Jaylen Sims averages a team-best 14.4 points and leads the Seahawks in rebounding average at 5.8. Sims scored 17 points with seven rebounds in the loss to Mercer. Sophomore forward Marten Linssen averages 10.4 points, but scoring points of late has been a struggle for UNC Wilmington, as the Seahawks have shot 40 percent or lower from the field in six of their past seven games against Division I competition.

ABOUT VANDERBILT (6-4): Nesmith is averaging four made 3-pointers per game while shooting 51 percent from the field and 47.6 from long range. Junior guard Saben Lee teams with Nesmith to provide quite the scoring duo, averaging 17.3 points while making 51.3 percent of his attempts from the field. Sophomore forward/center Ejike Obinna took on a large part of Brown’s minutes Sunday, scoring seven points with seven rebounds in a season-high 28 minutes.

TIP-INS

1. Vanderbilt freshman G Scotty Pippen Jr. is averaging 10.5 points, scoring 13 on Wednesday after finishing with just 10 total in his previous two games.

2. The Commodores wrap up non-conference play at home against Davidson on Dec. 30 and SMU on Jan. 4, before opening SEC play Jan. 8 at No. 9 Auburn.

3. UNC Wilmington has lost its past 10 games played in December dating back to 2017.

PREDICTION: Vanderbilt 77, UNC Wilmington 65