Vanderbilt’s season has largely followed the rhythm of Tyler Tanner - when he’s rolling, so are the Commodores. But as Saturday’s loss to Oklahoma reminded everyone, even a 37-point outburst from Tanner can’t always carry the load.
That’s why Tuesday night’s road win at Auburn felt different. It wasn’t just Tanner lighting it up. It was a full-team effort in one of the SEC’s toughest road environments, and Vanderbilt walked away with its first win at Neville Arena since 2016, topping Auburn 84-76.
Let’s be clear: Tanner still did his thing. The senior guard dropped 25 points, his usual blend of shot-making and poise. But what set this game apart was the support he finally got - and it started with Jalen Washington.
The North Carolina transfer has been filling in for the injured Duke Miles, and on this night, he didn’t just fill in - he broke out. Washington posted a career-high 22 points and grabbed five boards, setting the tone early with his aggressiveness.
“I just wanted to force the issue a little bit on the offensive end,” Washington said after the game. Mission accomplished.
Vanderbilt came out with the kind of urgency that was missing in their loss to Oklahoma. Washington said the team wanted to "punch first" in the opening minutes, and that’s exactly what they did. The Commodores looked locked in from the tip, playing with purpose and energy that clearly carried over from a week of stewing over that home loss.
And while Washington’s scoring was crucial, the supporting cast kept stepping up when it mattered most.
Devin McGlockton made his presence felt in the first half, giving Vanderbilt some needed physicality inside. But foul trouble limited his minutes down the stretch, opening the door for freshman Chandler Bing - and the rookie made the most of it.
Bing logged a career-high 32 minutes off the bench, scoring eight points and coming through in a massive moment. With under a minute left and Vanderbilt clinging to a slim lead, Bing calmly knocked down two free throws - despite entering the game shooting just 54% from the line.
Pressure? What pressure?
Then there was AK Okereke, who hadn’t found his rhythm all game but delivered when it counted. With Auburn surging late and the lead trimmed to six, Okereke buried his only three-pointer of the night, a dagger that helped slam the door on the Tigers’ comeback hopes.
That’s the kind of response head coach Mark Byington has been waiting for - not just from his stars, but from the entire rotation. With Frankie Collins and Duke Miles still sidelined, Vanderbilt needed someone to bridge the gap. On Tuesday, they found multiple answers.
“They’re prideful, and they care,” Byington said postgame. “They care about winning. They care about Vanderbilt.”
That care showed. This wasn’t just a bounce-back win - it was a statement.
A response to adversity. A team that’s been leaning heavily on one player finally found its balance, and it paid off in a big way.
Vanderbilt will still go as far as Tanner can take them, but if this game is any indication, he might not have to carry quite as much weight alone. That’s a big development for a team trying to find its identity down the stretch.