Middle Tennessee looked to end a three game skid at home Tuesday night against Vanderbilt but came up short.

The Raiders kept within striking distance for much of the game before the Commodores pulled away in the second half to a final score of 72-53.

“We needed this win tonight,” Raider sophomore Jason Jones, the team’s leading scorer with 15, said. “We knew this Vanderbilt team was a very good team and we couldn’t make a mistake.”

On the first Blue Raider possession Jones was able to draw a foul driving to the basket, knocking down two shots to grab the game’s first lead.

“I thought Jason played well,” Raider coach Kermit Davis said. “I thought he was active.”

Both teams got off to a slow start in the game with Vanderbilt grabbing an early advantage. At the 9:34 mark in the first half senior Rod Emmanuel was able to find freshman Kerry Hammonds under the basket for a dunk to tie things up at 12.

Right after Middle Tennessee tied the game up the Commodores started a 16-2 run that turned a manageable first half game into a much tougher test for the Raiders, trailing 41-27 at the half.

“In about 15 seconds that thing went to 12,” Davis said. “We really had no answer for the big guy (Vanderbilt’s Festus Ezeli). We got into foul trouble early.”

Middle cut the lead to single digits about five minutes into the second half, but Vanderbilt pulled away again, stretching the lead to 20 over the next 10 minutes of play.

“We’re not getting the ball into the post and getting any baskets,” coach Davis said. “We’re not getting to the foul line.”

Vanderbilt was able to draw 28 fouls in the game, scoring 24 points from the foul line. Middle was fouled only 19 times, scoring only 8 points from the line.

The Raiders shot poorly in the game as well with a field goal percentage of only 37%, compared to Vanderbilt’s 43.5%.

Both teams were close in rebounding and turnovers, but Vanderbilt did a better job of taking advantage of the turnovers they forced, outscoring Middle 15 to six on turnovers.

“(The team) just needs a good taste in its mouth,” Davis said of the team’s four-game slump. “Maybe the four days off for Christmas could do a lot of good.”

One of the needs of this Blue Raider team continues to be improved play in the post. A problem coach Davis has pointed out after the Raider’s last two home loses.

“Our biggest weaknesses showed up tonight,” Davis said. “What I thought could be the strength of our team has been one of our biggest weaknesses.”

The Blue Raiders will have a chance to end their skid at home December 29 against Tennessee State. The game will tip-off at 7 P.M.