Vanderbilt spoils Pearl’s return to SEC 64-52 over Auburn

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Auburn guard K.C. Ross-Miller tries to keep the ball in bounds as he chases it down with Vanderbilt forward James Siakam (35) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Cinmeon Bowers, Damian Jones

Auburn forward Cinmeon Bowers (5) shoots in front of Vanderbilt center Damian Jones during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Antoine Mason, Luke Kornet

Vanderbilt forward Luke Kornet (3) blocks a shot by Auburn guard Antoine Mason (14) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Jordon Granger, James Siakam

Auburn forward Jordon Granger (25) shoots in front of Vanderbilt forward James Siakam (35) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

K.C. Ross-Miller, Riley LaChance, Damian Jones, Shelton Mitchell

Auburn guard K.C. Ross-Miller (12) shoots as Vanderbilt’s Riley LaChance (13), Damian Jones (30) and Shelton Mitchell (0) defend during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Kevin Stallings

Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings argues a call during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game between Vanderbilt and Auburn on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Bruce Pearl

Auburn coach Bruce Pearl yells to his players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game between Auburn and Vanderbilt on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

K.T. Harrell, James Siakam

Auburn guard K.T. Harrell (1) and Vanderbilt forward James Siakam (35) vie for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Auburn Vanderbilt Basketball

An Auburn fan dances in the stands during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game between Auburn and Vanderbilt on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Kevin Stallings

Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings motions to his players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Auburn on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — James Siakam scored 14 points and Vanderbilt spoiled Auburn coach Bruce Pearl’s return to the Southeastern Conference as the Commodores won 64-52 in front of 10,502 at Memorial Gym on Tuesday.

Pearl, a former Tennessee coach, appeared in his first SEC game since serving a three-year show cause penalty from the NCAA for lying about a cookout at his home for recruits in 2008.

Pearl replaced the fired Tony Barbee in March.

Vanderbilt (11-3, 1-0 SEC) extended its winning streak to four games in the conference opener for both teams.

The loss ended Auburn’s five-game winning streak.

Auburn (8-6, 0-1) lost its 15 straight SEC road opener and 10th consecutive game to Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt’s Riley LaChance, wearing a faceguard to protect his broken nose, scored 13 points. He was named SEC Freshman of the Week for the second time Monday.

Vanderbilt’s Damian Jones added 11 points and Shelton Mitchell had 10.

Auburn’s Antoine Mason, a Niagara transfer who scored the Tigers first six points, led the visitors with 16.

Vanderbilt outrebounded Auburn 47-27, including a 35-17 edge on the defensive glass. Commodores forward Luke Kornet and Siakam each grabbed 10 rebounds.

Auburn’s K.T Harrell, who entered the game as the SEC’s second-leading scorer (17.9 ppg) was held to eight points on 3 of 9 shooting.

Auburn’s Jordon Granger hit a 3-pointer to cut Vanderbilt’s lead to 55-50 with 2:13 left.

LaChance answered with a layup that increase the Commodores’ lead to 57-50 with 1:05 left.

Vanderbilt held a two-point lead when it went on a 12-0 run, boosting the Commodores’ advantage to 25-11 on Mitchell’s layup with 7:10 left in the first half.

Midway through the run Pearl called a timeout to try to change the momentum, but the Commodores kept pouring it on.

Auburn came out cold, missing 16 of its first 20 shots.

Vanderbilt hit 46.4 percent of its shots from the floor during the first 20 minutes to take a 33-19 halftime lead.

The Commodores nearly doubled Auburn’s rebound total in the first half with a 24-13 advantage.

Auburn narrowed the gap to 43-38 on Mason’s layup with 10:42 left.

Vanderbilt rallied, stretching its lead to 50-38 on LaChance’s 3-pointer with 9:10 left.

Auburn was seeking its longest winning streak since a seven-game win streak in 2008-09.

Pearl was 3-3 at Memorial Gym at Tennessee, including a 72-69 loss when Tennessee was ranked No. 1 in 2008.

His SEC winning percentage of 67.1 trails only Kentucky’s John Calipari (76.2).

Auburn hasn’t won at Memorial Gym since 2000.

Auburn’s Cinmeon Bowers, a junior college transfer who entered the game as the SEC’s leading rebounder, grabbed nine boards.

TIP-INS

Auburn: The Tigers were 24-60 in the SEC the last five years.

Vanderbilt: The Commodores went 7-11 in the SEC last year, including losses in their last five games.

UP NEXT

Auburn hosts Missouri on Saturday.

Vanderbilt visits Arkansas on Saturday.