In a thrilling showdown at Bridgestone Arena, Vanderbilt men's basketball team has punched their ticket to the SEC Tournament title game for the first time in over a decade. The No. 4 seed Commodores, ranked 22nd, delivered a commanding performance against top-seeded No. 4 Florida, securing a 91-74 victory.
Vanderbilt showcased a well-rounded offensive display with five players scoring in double digits. Tyler Tanner led the charge with 20 points, shooting an impressive 8-of-10 from the field.
The sophomore, who’s turning heads as a National Player of the Year candidate, also dished out eight assists with just one turnover in 37 minutes. Jalen Washington provided a spark off the bench, scoring 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting.
Duke Miles added 15 points, maintaining perfection at the line with 10-for-10 free throws, while Devin McGlockton and AK Okereke contributed 12 and 11 points, respectively.
The Commodores were firing on all cylinders, hitting 54.5% from the field and an outstanding 91.3% from the charity stripe, along with sinking 10 three-pointers. Tyler Nickel and Chandler Bing chipped in seven points each, rounding out a balanced offensive effort.
The game was tightly contested early on, tied at the eight-minute mark, before Miles took over. He nailed all three free throws after being fouled on a shot and then completed a rare 4-point play.
McGlockton's three-pointer extended Vanderbilt’s lead to 26-16. A critical steal by Miles led to a layup just before the half, giving Vandy a 47-34 advantage at the break.
Florida, whose largest deficit this season had been 19 points, found themselves trailing by 21 after a thunderous dunk from Bing. The Commodores stretched their lead to as much as 25, sealing a decisive victory.
For Florida, Thomas Haugh put up a valiant effort with 19 points and nine rebounds. Boogie Fland added 15 points, while Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu contributed 13 points and seven boards, and 12 points and six rebounds, respectively. Despite dominating the glass with a 38-23 rebounding edge, including 20 offensive boards, the Gators couldn’t capitalize, only outscoring Vanderbilt by six in the paint and earning just three more second-chance points.
Vanderbilt now awaits the winner of the Arkansas vs. Ole Miss semifinal, as they prepare for their first championship game appearance since their 2012 triumph over Kentucky. The Commodores' impressive form suggests they could be a formidable opponent in the final showdown.