NASHVILLE, Tenn. _ The Vanderbilt Commodores made five three throws in the final 24 seconds Friday night to finally subdue the scrappy University of Central Arkansas Bears 75-71 in non-conference action in front of 5,247 at Memorial Gymnasium.

The Bears, who trailed by as much as 16 points midway through the first half, got themselves back in the game early in the second half with tenacious defense and quality perimeter shooting. UCA made 7 of 13 from three-point range on the night, for a season-high 53.8 percent. The Bears, still playing without All-ASIN guard Camren Hunter, got points from nine different players, including four in double figures.

Graduate transfer guard Daniel Sofield was perfect on the night, going 3 for 3 from three-point range and 4 of 4 overall and tied for the team lead with 11 points. Senior Masai Olowokere also had 11 points, while sophomore center Glory Etim had his first double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman Javion Guy-King chipped in 11 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists before exiting late with an injury.

"Going into the game, we were pretty confident," said UCA head coach Anthony Boone. "The guys really worked hard the last few days after the disappointing loss we had at home (Monday). We were focused and we were on a mission. We preached that to the guys and our mindset was coming in here and getting a win.And the guys worked really heard for it.

    "I was disappointed in the outcome because I thought the guys played hard enough and well enough to deserve to win. But just a few things here didn't fall our way. Just heartbroken for the guys because they played really hard and did a lot of the things we asked them to do, and did a lot of things we asked them to do very well." 

The Bears (1-3) never led by pulled within one point twice in the final minute. But each time, the Commodores (3-1) drew a foul and went to the line and pushed the lead back out with free throws. Vandy was 5 of 6 in the final 24 seconds, including four straight by guard Ezra Manjon, who finished with 16 points. He was one of four Vandy players in double figures, including a double-double by Colin Smith (14 points, 11 rebounds).

Vandy, from the Southeastern Conference, has now won its three games by a combined 15 points, after a season-opening loss to Presbyterian, all at home.

For the game, UCA out-shot Vandy 49.1 percent to 44.3 percent, and also won the rebound battle 37-34, including 10 offensive rebounds.

"The guys were really laser focused on that," said Boone. "And Vanderbilt has been really beating up the teams they've played so far on the glass, and that was a point of emphasis going in watching film and in practice. We have to be tough on the glass. And if we can replicate this effort in the other games we play, we're going to have a chance in most of those games."

Sophomore Carl Daughtery, Jr., returned to the UCA lineup after missing a pair of games due to injury, He made his first three-point attempt immediately after entering in the first half and finished with seven points. Sofield's 11 points was a season high after a poor shooting night in the loss to UAPB on Monday.

"That's exactly who we saw when we were recruiting him," said Boone of the graduate transfer from West Florida. "Hopefully he's continuing to get his legs under him so that he can have more games like that."

UCA continues its three-game road trip at Southeast Missouri on Monday in Cape Girardeau, Mo., followed by a Wednesday matchup with Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan.