WGNO

Simmons carries Tigers to win in SEC opener at Vandy

Montverde's Ben Simmons at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Classic. (Victoria Winkles/WGNO)

He may be the best player in the country. He certainly looked the part Saturday night in Nashville.

LSU freshman Ben Simmons scored 36 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as the Tigers pulled away to a 90-82 over Vanderbilt at Memorial Gymnasium. LSU won for the third straight time in Nashville, a first in school history.

Simmons was 10 of 15 from the field, and 16 of 19 at the free throw line.

LSU outscored Vandy 40-24 in the paint.

Keith Hornsby scored 23 points for the Tigers, including 4 three pointers.

LSU hosts Kentucky Tuesday night.