Battered clipboard made point

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Southeastern Conference most valuable player Derrick Byars was missing 3-pointers all over the place. Second-team All-SEC wing Shan Foster was following suit. Center Ted Skuchas was struggling inside against Washington State counterpart Aron Baynes.

Vanderbilt was in trouble, but not in as much jeopardy as Commodores coach Kevin Stallings’ clipboard during a timeout with 11:52 remaining. Stallings slammed the clipboard twice during the break and Vanderbilt promptly rallied from a 51-43 deficit to pull out a 78-74 double-overtime victory over Washington State on Saturday.

“Coach very calmly put the clipboard on the floor and told me I messed up on a play on defense,” Vandy wing Dan Cage joked. “In the last 15 or 20 minutes, we locked down and played a lot better. Another reason we won is because Derrick and Shan came out in the second half and became the people that they are for us.”

Byars, bottled up by a rotation that included Ivory Clark, Robbie Cowgill and Kyle Weaver, connected on four 3-pointers – two prior to Stallings’ clipboard meeting the Arco Arena hardwood and two immediately after. The last one put Vandy on top 52-51.

Byars said the breakthrough came when he connected on his first 3-pointer over Cowgill with 14:15 remaining.

“I’m a streak shooter, I must admit, and when that first one fell in and they were playing off me, I got a little confidence going,” said Byars, who finished with a game-high 27 points.

Foster made one 3-pointer, but it was timely. He swished a 3 with 1:10 left to give Vandy a 60-59 lead. WSU forced OT on Weaver’s free throw.

Skuchas, who was scoreless through regulation and the first overtime, made his contribution in the second overtime. He scored four points, including a putback that gave Vandy the lead for good at 73-71, and grabbed two rebounds.

“You just try to take opportunities you’re given and take advantage,” Skuchas said. “Washington State does everything with discipline and execution.”