No. 19 Vanderbilt Hosts Texas A&M in Key SEC Clash at Memorial Gym
Vanderbilt is back home and riding high.
Fresh off a statement road win at Auburn, the 19th-ranked Commodores (20-4, 7-4 SEC) return to Memorial Gymnasium for a Saturday showdown with Texas A&M (17-7, 7-4 SEC). Tipoff is set for noon CT, and fans can catch the action on SEC Network or listen in on 102.5 The Game with Kevin Ingram and Tim Thompson on the call.
This one’s got all the ingredients of a classic SEC battle: two teams tied in the conference standings, a top-25 program finding its stride, and a home crowd ready to make some noise.
Jalen Washington Finds His Groove
If you’re looking for momentum, look no further than Jalen Washington. The veteran big man put together the best performance of his college career in Vanderbilt’s 84-76 win over Auburn, dropping a career-high 22 points on a near-perfect shooting night.
Washington was locked in from the jump, going 7-of-8 from the field and a flawless 2-for-2 from deep. He also cashed in all six of his free throw attempts, showing poise and polish in a high-pressure environment. But it wasn’t just the offense-Washington anchored a Commodore defense that made life tough at the rim, holding Auburn to just 11-of-27 on layup attempts.
That kind of two-way effort is exactly what Vanderbilt needs as they navigate the heart of the SEC schedule.
Tyler Tanner: Wooden Watch and Then Some
Sophomore guard Tyler Tanner is putting together the kind of season that gets remembered-and recognized. This week, he was officially added to the Wooden Award Top 20 watch list, placing him firmly in the conversation for National Player of the Year and All-America honors.
And the numbers back it up.
Tanner has been on a tear, scoring 20 or more in each of the last three games and averaging over 22 points per game in SEC play. He’s hit double figures in all 24 games this season and currently sits at 22.3 points and 5.9 assists per game in conference action.
Defensively, he’s been just as impactful. His 59 steals already place him in Vanderbilt’s top 10 for a single season, and his 128 assists rank fifth all-time among Vandy sophomores. With 453 points so far, Tanner is tracking toward one of the most prolific sophomore campaigns in program history-his 18.9 points per game would rank third behind only Scotty Pippen Jr. and John Jenkins.
In short, he’s doing it all-and doing it with poise beyond his years.
Back-to-Back 20-Win Seasons
Saturday’s game also marks a milestone moment for the Commodores. With their win at Auburn, Vanderbilt locked in its second straight 20-win season under head coach Mark Byington. That’s something the program hasn’t done since the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons.
Byington is also making a bit of history himself. He’s the first head coach in Vanderbilt history to notch 20 wins in each of his first two seasons at the helm. That’s not just a stat-it’s a sign of a program on the rise, building consistency and culture in one of college basketball’s toughest conferences.
This is only the ninth time in program history that Vanderbilt has posted back-to-back 20-win seasons. That kind of success doesn’t happen by accident.
Series Snapshot: Vandy vs. Texas A&M
Vanderbilt leads the all-time series against Texas A&M 12-8, and recent history has favored the Dores. They’ve taken the last two meetings, including a buzzer-beater win at home in 2024 and a gritty, extended battle in College Station last season.
February has also been kind to Vanderbilt in this matchup. They’re 7-1 all-time against the Aggies in February games-a trend they’ll look to continue this weekend.
What’s at Stake
With both teams sitting at 7-4 in the SEC, Saturday’s matchup carries significant weight in the conference standings. A win for Vanderbilt would keep them firmly in the hunt near the top of the league and continue their push toward a strong postseason seed.
But more than that, it’s a chance for the Commodores to show just how far they’ve come. With a red-hot sophomore guard, a veteran big man playing his best basketball, and a head coach making history, Vanderbilt has all the pieces in place.
Now, it’s about putting it all together-again-on their home floor.