Davidson @ Vanderbilt preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 22, 2012 ) Vanderbilt 62, Davidson 75

Aaron Nesmith is one of the top scorers in the nation and can take over a game on his own but, as Vanderbilt heads into Monday’s home contest against Davidson, coach Jerry Stackhouse needs more support for his sophomore forward. Nesmith scored a career high-tying 34 points in an 88-73 victory over UNC Wilmington on Dec. 21, but junior guard Saben Lee was the only other player in double figures with 14.

The nation’s fifth-ranked scorer entering Sunday at 23.5 points per game, Nesmith tied a career high by hitting seven 3-pointers while finishing 9-for-16 from the field and 9-for-11 from the free-throw line. “It would be better for our team maybe if he had 20 (points) and we could get some contributions from other areas, because that’s what we are going to need,” Stackhouse told reporters postgame, with an eye toward SEC play starting Jan. 8 at eighth-ranked Auburn. Davidson opened its season with an 76-66 loss to Auburn on Nov. 8 and, after beginning the season 0-2, has won six of its past nine games. The Wildcats won 59-56 at Loyola Chicago on Dec. 22, rallying from nine points down early in the second half.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, No TV

ABOUT DAVIDSON (6-5): Freshman swingman Hyunjung Lee scored 14 of his game-high 19 points in the second half against Loyola Chicago to lift the Wildcats to their third consecutive victory, and the reigning Atlantic 10 rookie of the week is shooting 50.8 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range. Junior guard Kellan Grady averages a team-best 16.1 points, while senior guard Jon Axel Gudmundsson averages 11.6 points and a team-high 5.6 rebounds. The Wildcats are among the top 15 teams in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (11.1).

ABOUT VANDERBILT (7-4): Nesmith has been outstanding, shooting 51.5 percent from the field, 50 percent from 3-point range and 84.3 percent from the free-throw line, and entering Sunday ranked second in the nation in made 3-pointers per game (4.27). Lee is shooting 51.2 percent from the field and averages 17 points and 5.6 assists, combining with Nesmith to account for 51 percent of Vanderbilt’s offense. Freshman guard Scotty Pippen Jr. has scored in double figures six times, while averaging 4.6 assists with a 1.89 assist-to-turnover ratio.

TIP-INS

1. Already missing senior F Clevon Brown to a knee injury, Vanderbilt hopes sophomore C Ejike Obinna can return Monday after missing the UNC Wilmington game with a hamstring injury.

2. Vanderbilt freshman F Oton Jankovic returned against UNC Wilmington after missing six games with a knee injury, scoring two points with two rebounds in 12 minutes.

3. Commodores freshman G/F Braelee Albert made his team debut last time out, hitting a 3-pointer in 13 minutes.

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PREDICTION: Vanderbilt 77, Davidson 70