In a thrilling NCAA Tournament clash, the No. 5 seed Vanderbilt Commodores punched their ticket to the round of 32, overcoming No. 12 McNeese State with a 78-68 victory. This win marks Vanderbilt's first tournament triumph since 2012, a significant milestone for the program.
Tyler Tanner was the star of the show, lighting up the scoreboard with 26 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and dishing out five assists. His sharpshooting was on full display as he drained three shots from downtown and went nearly perfect from the charity stripe, hitting 9-of-10.
Duke Miles contributed a solid 13 points and three assists, while Tyler Nickel added 12 points, showcasing his range with three triples and three free throws. Devin McGlockton also chipped in 12 points and was a force on the boards with eight rebounds.
AK Okereke added seven points and led the team with nine rebounds, anchoring Vanderbilt's presence in the paint.
The game didn't start smoothly for the Commodores, as they found themselves down by 11 points at the first media timeout. But they gradually clawed back, and a crucial three-pointer from Nickel put them ahead just before halftime, where they held a slim three-point advantage.
Vanderbilt came out firing in the second half, quickly extending their lead with a 7-0 run. However, McNeese State wasn't ready to fold, narrowing the gap to 63-60 with just over six minutes left.
Tanner then took over, scoring seven points in a decisive 9-0 run that sealed the game for the Commodores. Their flawless free-throw shooting down the stretch ensured there would be no comeback.
The Commodores dominated inside, scoring 34 points in the paint and capitalizing on turnovers with 13 points. They also edged out McNeese on the boards, 37-34, while shooting an impressive 51 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three-point range. Their efficiency at the free-throw line, hitting 17-of-20, was the icing on the cake.
For McNeese State, Garwey Dual led the charge with 16 points and six assists, while Larry Johnson added 15 points and five rebounds. Tyshawn Archie contributed 13 points in the effort.
Next up for Vanderbilt is a showdown with No. 4 Nebraska on Saturday in Oklahoma City. The Commodores will be looking to advance to their first Sweet 16 since 2007, riding high on the momentum of this hard-fought victory.