Vanderbilt Bounces Back in a Big Way, Blows Past Mississippi State in Starkville
This was the version of Vanderbilt fans had been waiting to see again - the one that ripped off 16 straight wins to open the season. After a rough three-game skid, the No. 15 Commodores looked more like themselves on Saturday, steamrolling Mississippi State 88-56 in a wire-to-wire win inside Humphrey Coliseum.
Tyler Tanner led the charge with 24 points, five assists, and five rebounds in a performance that reminded everyone just how dangerous he can be when he’s in rhythm. The junior guard set the tone early and never let up, attacking the rim, knocking down shots, and playing with the kind of poise and control that elevates this team to another level.
Duke Miles added 17 points, four assists, and a jaw-dropping seven steals - the most by a Commodore since James Strong swiped seven back in 1998. Tyler Nickel chipped in 13 points, Devin McGlockton added 10, and in total, eight Vanderbilt players scored at least five points. It was a balanced, high-energy effort on both ends of the floor.
Fast Start, Full Throttle
If there’s been a theme to Vanderbilt’s best basketball this season, it’s their ability to start fast and punch first. That was on full display in Starkville.
After Mississippi State tied the game at 2-2, the Commodores went on a 10-0 run in less than two minutes - and when the Bulldogs finally snapped that, Vanderbilt responded with another 8-0 burst. That kind of quick-strike offense has been a hallmark of their best stretches this year, and it returned with a vengeance.
By the time the first half was winding down, the Commodores had hit 10 of their first 11 shots and were shooting nearly 56% from the field. Tanner had 14 points and four assists in the opening nine minutes alone, helping Vanderbilt build a 20-4 lead in the first five minutes and change. Mississippi State managed to cut it to 24-13, but a couple of timely threes - one from Tanner on a kick-out from AK Okereke, and another from Nickel in transition off a Miles steal - pushed the lead right back to 17.
The Bulldogs went ice-cold for a six-minute stretch midway through the half, and when Jalen Washington slammed home a dunk off a McGlockton assist, it was 41-18. Chandler Bing then capped the half with a buzzer-beating three to send Vanderbilt into the break up by 21.
Defense Delivers
Let’s be honest - defense was the glaring issue during Vanderbilt’s recent three-game slide, where they gave up 80, 98, and 93 points. But on Saturday, the energy on that end was completely different.
The Commodores were flying around, diving for loose balls, contesting shots, and rotating with purpose. Washington blocked four shots, and Miles, Okereke, and Bing all took turns locking in on Mississippi State’s top scorers.
The Bulldogs came in with two guards averaging over 15 points per game - Josh Hubbard and Jayden Epps - and Vanderbilt made sure neither got comfortable. Hubbard, who had scored at least 12 points in every game this season (minus a brief two-minute appearance against San Francisco), was held to just seven points on seven shots in 30 minutes.
He finished with a minus-24 rating. Epps added 14 on 5-of-11 shooting, but he too struggled to find consistent looks and ended the game at minus-20.
Much of the credit for containing Hubbard goes to Tanner, who took on the primary defensive assignment in the second half. Vanderbilt also smartly shaded a second defender toward Hubbard when he had the ball beyond the arc, taking away his space and forcing others to make plays.
Offensive Flow Returns
Offensively, this was one of Vanderbilt’s most fluid performances in weeks. The Commodores racked up 21 assists on 35 made baskets, with seven different players logging at least one dime. The ball movement was crisp, and a lot of those assists led to high-percentage looks - dunks, layups, and open threes.
While the three-point shooting wasn’t lights-out (8-of-25), many of those attempts came early in the shot clock or in transition - part of the fast, free-flowing style that head coach Mark Byington encourages. That pace is what allows Vanderbilt to go on those momentum-swinging runs, so the occasional quick trigger is part of the package.
Handling Foul Trouble
Foul trouble popped up again in the first half, with Vanderbilt committing 11 fouls and putting Mississippi State in the bonus with over nine minutes left before halftime. Mike James picked up his third foul early, and Tanner’s foul with 4:19 left put the Bulldogs in the double bonus.
But the damage was minimal. Mississippi State hit just 5-of-10 from the line in the first half and couldn’t take full advantage.
In the second half, Vanderbilt cleaned things up - committing only eight fouls. James and Miles each finished with four, but most of Miles’s came with the game already well in hand.
A Needed Reset
Let’s not sugarcoat it - this was a matchup that favored Vanderbilt stylistically, and Mississippi State didn’t exactly bring its best effort. But in the SEC, road wins are never a given, and the Commodores did exactly what they needed to do: come out swinging, play with urgency, and dominate from start to finish.
This was the kind of response game that can reset a team’s confidence. The defense was locked in, the offense was humming, and the energy was contagious. Tanner and Miles were exceptional in the backcourt, especially with Frankie Collins still sidelined, and Vanderbilt’s depth showed up in a big way.
It’s a long season, and the road ahead won’t be easy. But if Saturday was any indication, the Commodores have found their footing again - and that makes them a dangerous team moving forward.