Vanderbilt Finds Its Groove Again in Blowout Win Over Mississippi State
After weeks of grinding through SEC play without much to show for it, Vanderbilt finally delivered the kind of performance that reminded fans of what this team is capable of. The Commodores didn’t just beat Mississippi State - they dismantled them, 88-56, in a game that felt more like the dominant nonconference outings we saw earlier in the season than the recent struggles against league opponents.
This was a classic “get-right” game, and Vanderbilt took full advantage.
Breaking Down the Numbers
If you’re into the Four Factors - the key statistical pillars that often determine the outcome of a game - this one had a bit of a twist. Vanderbilt only won two of the four: effective field goal percentage (eFG%) and turnover percentage (TO%). But they won those two by such a wide margin that it didn’t matter what happened on the offensive glass or at the free-throw line.
Let’s start with shooting. Vanderbilt torched Mississippi State with a 60% eFG%, compared to the Bulldogs’ 38.8%.
That’s not just a gap - that’s a canyon. The Commodores were especially lethal inside the arc, hitting 27 of 40 two-point attempts.
That kind of efficiency is hard to beat, and it’s a return to form for a team that, earlier this season, made a habit of carving up defenses in the paint.
Turnovers were another story. Vanderbilt kept theirs to a minimum, coughing it up just 12.2% of the time. Mississippi State, on the other hand, turned it over nearly 23% of their possessions - a number that’s going to sink you even on a good shooting night, which this definitely wasn’t.
Mississippi State did win the offensive rebounding and free throw rate battles, but those advantages were largely moot given how often they missed shots and how rarely they converted possessions into points.
Tanner and Miles Steer the Ship
Let’s be real: Vanderbilt’s engine runs a lot smoother when Tyler Tanner and Duke Miles are locked in. In recent losses to Texas and Arkansas, both players struggled to find their rhythm. That changed in Starkville.
Miles was everywhere defensively, racking up seven steals - just one shy of the Vanderbilt single-game record. And while those record-holders (Frank Seckar, Atiba Prater, James Strong) all hit that mark against OVC teams, Miles did it against an SEC opponent. That’s a different level of impact.
Tanner, meanwhile, bounced back from a couple of underwhelming performances to lead the offense with poise and pace. He wasn’t forcing shots, wasn’t trying to do too much - just letting the game come to him and making smart decisions.
It’s not as simple as saying Vanderbilt goes as those two go, but when they’re playing well, the Commodores look like a completely different team.
Supporting Cast Steps Up
Tyler Nickel had an off night by his standards - his lowest offensive rating since the Memphis game - but that didn’t slow down the offense. That’s a good sign. It means Vanderbilt didn’t need a herculean effort from one of its top scorers to put up 88 points.
Jalen Washington and Chandler Bing gave the team quality minutes off the bench, and Mike James continues to be a factor in the rotation, though foul trouble limited him in this one. Interestingly, Tyler Harris - who seemed to have lost his spot - went a perfect 3-for-3 from the field. That battle for backup guard minutes might not be settled just yet.
Devin McGlockton and AK Okereke were relatively quiet, and against tougher opponents, Vanderbilt will likely need more from both. But against Mississippi State, the rest of the roster picked up the slack.
Still no sign of Frankie Collins or Mason Nicholson, both of whom remain out. Late appearances from Jayden Leverett and Jaylon Dean-Vines were more about emptying the bench than anything else, though it’s only Dean-Vines’ second appearance in SEC play.
Looking Ahead: Kentucky Comes to Town
Next up: a big one. Kentucky visits Memorial Gym on Tuesday night, and while the tip is scheduled for 8 PM CT on ESPN, winter weather could throw a wrench into that timing. Either way, it’s a huge opportunity for Vanderbilt to build momentum.
Kentucky has won five straight, including a 72-63 win over Ole Miss, and they’re starting to look like the team many expected heading into the season. This will be a major test for the Commodores, especially if they want to prove that the Mississippi State win wasn’t just a one-off.
Around the SEC: A Shake-Up at the Top
It was a wild weekend in the SEC.
Alabama brought in a G-League call-up and still lost at home to Tennessee. Florida dropped a game to Auburn in Gainesville.
Georgia got run out of the gym by Texas. Even Arkansas barely held off LSU, who’s now 1-6 in conference play.
Meanwhile, Texas A&M continues to roll. The Aggies blew out South Carolina and now sit alone atop the SEC standings at 6-1. Expect them to crack the Top 25 on Monday.
Missouri pulled off one of the wildest wins of the day, hitting buzzer-beaters to force overtime and to win it against Oklahoma. Not something you see every week.
Here’s how the standings shake out right now:
- Texas A&M: 6-1
- Florida, Arkansas, Kentucky: 5-2
- Vanderbilt, Auburn, Georgia, Missouri: 4-3
- Alabama, Tennessee: 3-3
- Texas, Ole Miss: 3-4
- South Carolina, Mississippi State: 2-5
- LSU, Oklahoma: 1-6
LSU and Oklahoma have been competitive, but the pressure is building on coaches Matt McMahon and Porter Moser. Lamont Paris at South Carolina may also be feeling the heat.
Final Thoughts
This was the kind of win that can reset a season. Vanderbilt didn’t just beat an SEC opponent - they dominated one. And they did it by playing their brand of basketball: efficient, aggressive, and smart.
The real question now is whether they can carry that same energy into Tuesday night against Kentucky. If they do, we might be talking about a very different Vanderbilt team in the second half of SEC play.