Vanderbilt's Memorial Gymnasium was electric as the Commodores took on Ole Miss, and Tyler Tanner made sure the home crowd went home happy. The guard's 24 points paced Vanderbilt to a 71-68 win, a margin much closer than the 10.8 points by which CHD Scout had predicted the Commodores would prevail. Despite the tighter-than-expected score, the outcome was as forecasted, with Vanderbilt emerging victorious.
The first half saw Vanderbilt take control, heading into the locker room with a 31-23 lead. Ole Miss struggled to find its rhythm, but Malik Dia's 16 points kept the Rebels within striking distance. Dia was one of two Ole Miss players to reach 16 points, with AJ Storr matching his teammate's total. However, Vanderbilt's balanced attack, which included 17 points and 5 rebounds from AK Okereke, and 9 points and 9 rebounds from Mike James, proved too much for the Rebels to overcome.
As the second half got underway, Ole Miss began to push back, outscoring Vanderbilt 45-40 over the final 20 minutes. Ilias Kamardine's 14 points and 5 rebounds were key in the Rebels' attempted comeback, but ultimately, Vanderbilt's lead was too great to surmount. The Commodores' ability to close out the game, despite being outscored in the second half, was a reflection of their poise and experience.
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Tanner's performance was the difference-maker, as he consistently found ways to score and create for his teammates. His 24 points were a game-high, and his ability to perform under pressure matters as Vanderbilt looks to make a deep run in the tournament. With this win, the Commodores improve to 19-3, solidifying their position as one of the top teams in the country.
This game was classified as a Quadrant 3 win for Vanderbilt, which will help bolster their resume as they pursue a high seed in the NCAA Tournament. For Ole Miss, the loss was a Quadrant 1 defeat, which, although not ideal, will still be viewed favorably by the selection committee due to the strength of the opponent. As the Rebels look to build their tournament case, they must learn from this hard-fought loss and use it as motivation to push through the remainder of their schedule.
The victory is another feather in the cap for Vanderbilt, which continues to make a strong case for a high tournament seed. With their 19-3 record and impressive net ranking of 13, the Commodores are well-positioned to make some noise in the postseason. This win, although closer than expected, will only add to their confidence and momentum as they head into the final stretch of the season.