Vanderbilt holds off Auburn for first SEC win

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - Sophomore Matt Freije scored a career-high 29 points and Vanderbilt snapped a school-record 12-game Southeastern Conference losing streak by beating Auburn 73-67 Wednesday. <br> <br> Freije scored all seven points during a crucial 7-0 Vanderbilt run late in the second half that put the Commodores (11-6, 1-3) up eight with 3:45 to play. <br> <br> Auburn (9-6, 1-3) had two chances to tie the game in the final 30 seconds, but 3-pointers by Marquis Daniels and Dwayne Mitchell came up short. <br> <br> Vanderbilt iced the game as Chuck Moore made two free throws and Brian Thornton one. <br> <br> Auburn was led by Marquis Daniels and Kyle Davis. Daniels scored 15 points, handed out four assists and had three rebounds. Davis was dominant on the defensive end, blocking eight shots, and scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds. <br> <br> Moore scored 13 points for Vanderbilt and grabbed seven rebounds. <br> <br> Vanderbilt, which had been getting outrebounded by 12 per game in SEC play, outrebounded the Tigers 35-33. Thornton led the way with 14 to go along with nine points. <br> <br> Auburn had a chance to take control midway through the first half when Vanderbilt suffered through a six-minute scoring drought. But the Tigers extended their 16-11 lead only to 20-11 before Vanderbilt got hot. <br> <br> Freije made a 4-point play and Sam Howard followed with a 3-pointer to bring the Commodores back into the game. Auburn led at halftime 29-28 following a Mitchell layup. <br> <br> The Commodores had not won in SEC play since defeating Alabama Jan. 31, 2001. <br> <br> Auburn remained winless on the road this season in three attempts.

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