Vanderbilt Keeps Rolling: Tanner, McGlockton Lead the Charge in Dominant Win Over New Haven
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - No Frankie Collins. No Duke Miles. No problem.
Vanderbilt stayed perfect on the season Monday night, steamrolling New Haven 96-53 at Memorial Gymnasium to move to 13-0. Even with their backcourt depth tested, the Commodores looked every bit like the No. 11 team in the country. From the opening tip, they were in control - and they never let up.
Tyler Tanner Sets the Tone Early
Tyler Tanner wasted no time making his presence felt. On Vanderbilt’s first two possessions, he threw down a dunk and buried a three.
That opening burst was a preview of what was to come. Tanner finished with 23 points, seven assists, and five rebounds - a complete performance from the junior guard who stepped up in the absence of Miles and Collins.
By the time Tanner sank a pair of free throws with 16:42 left in the first half, Vanderbilt was up 11-2. A few possessions later, Harris knocked down a three, and Devin McGlockton picked off a pass and found Okereke for a fast-break layup. Just four minutes in, it was 16-2, and New Haven was already on the ropes.
Tanner’s energy was contagious. He drove the lane with purpose, found open teammates in rhythm, and played with the kind of confidence that sets the tone for an entire team.
McGlockton Delivers a Vintage Performance
Devin McGlockton was steady and efficient all night. The junior forward notched his first double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds - and he did it without committing a single foul, which even he admitted was a rarity.
“No fouls - that may be the first time in my life,” McGlockton joked after the game.
Beyond the scoring and rebounding, McGlockton also dished out five assists, tying his season high. His ability to pass out of the post and keep the ball moving was a key part of Vanderbilt’s offensive flow. He and Tanner both finished with a team-high plus-45 rating - a stat that tells the story of just how dominant they were when on the floor.
Washington Finds His Groove
Jalen Washington gave Commodore fans a glimpse of what he’s capable of offensively. The senior forward dropped a career-high 21 points on just 11 shots, showing off a smooth mid-range game and the ability to finish in transition.
It was Washington’s sixth double-digit scoring game of the season - already surpassing his total from last year at North Carolina.
“This offense lets me be free,” Washington said postgame. “I’ve got a whole bunch of unselfish teammates who find me.”
He was especially effective in the second half, capping off a fast-break dunk with 14:02 left that pushed the lead to 63-32 - Vanderbilt’s first 30-point margin of the night.
Depth Steps Up in Backcourt Shuffle
With Collins sidelined due to a meniscus injury and Miles a last-minute scratch due to illness, Vanderbilt had to shuffle its rotation. Tyler Harris slid into the starting lineup and responded with 16 points, while Okereke, Nickel, and McGlockton rounded out the first five.
The bench came in early and often. Bing and Washington checked in before the first media timeout, and Mike James joined the mix shortly after. As the lead ballooned in the second half, Tanner got some well-earned rest, and walk-on Miles Keefe - who had logged just 11 minutes all season - took over some of the ball-handling duties.
Head coach Mark Byington provided a bit of optimism on Collins’ status, noting that the injury isn’t as serious as some reports suggested.
“What was put on social media was not accurate,” Byington said. “What we’re talking about with him is in weeks… It’s a minor thing.”
Clean, Unselfish Basketball
Vanderbilt played a sharp, focused game - the kind of performance that can be easy to overlook when the scoreboard is lopsided. But the details mattered. The Commodores committed just nine turnovers, only seven fouls, and assisted on 24 of their 37 made field goals.
They closed the game with a 20-7 run over the final 8:34, refusing to let up despite the margin. That’s the kind of discipline and maturity that championship-caliber teams build on.
Byington pointed to the team’s unselfishness as one of the night’s biggest takeaways - and it showed in the way the ball moved, how players filled in for missing teammates, and how the bench stayed engaged from start to finish.
New Haven Struggles to Keep Up
New Haven came in averaging just under 65 possessions per game and tried to slow things down. But even with the tempo reduced, Vanderbilt found ways to push the pace, racking up 21 fast-break points.
Chargers head coach Ted Hotaling acknowledged the challenge his team faced.
“I think this is the best offensive team we’ve played,” Hotaling said. “The challenge going in is how well they shoot the ball at all five positions.”
That versatility - the ability to space the floor, attack mismatches, and keep defenses guessing - is what makes this Vanderbilt team so dangerous.
What’s Next
With the non-conference slate winding down, Vanderbilt looks every bit like a team ready for the challenges of conference play. They’ve shown they can win with different lineups, adapt on the fly, and stay locked in regardless of the opponent.
If Monday night was any indication, this group isn’t just talented - they’re connected, confident, and built to make noise deep into the season.