Vanderbilt basketball took its first Quadrant 3 loss of the season, falling at home to Oklahoma after failing to complete a late comeback in a 92-91 loss on Feb. 7 at Memorial Gymnasium.
The No. 15 Commodores (18-4, 6-4 SEC) got off to a poor start and never recovered, as the Sooners (12-12, 2-9) led wire to wire. Oklahoma had an uncharacteristically strong shooting day at 53% from the floor and 43% from 3-point range.
For Vanderbilt, Tyler Tanner (37 points) and Tyler Nickel (18 points) led the way, but they struggled to get any help, with Duke Miles and Frankie Collins out.
The Commodores managed to cut the deficit down to single digits within the final minute after the Sooners had led by as many as 21 in the second half.
Down by three with 24.5 seconds to go, Oklahoma couldn’t get the ball in and turned it over. But Vanderbilt turned it over on the ensuing possession. The Sooners made one of two free throws with 19 seconds left to increase their lead to four, but Vanderbilt turned the ball over again and Oklahoma once again made one free throw.
Tanner made a deep 3 to cut the deficit to two. But the Sooners made both free throws on the other end to all but ice the game. Tanner hit a 3-pointer as time expired to make the final deficit one point.
Oklahoma was up, 80-61, with 3:56 to go in the game.
Oklahoma led, 64-47, with 11:46 to go in the game. Tyler Tanner is up to 15 points.
The Commodores trailed, 56-40, with 16:18 to go in the second half.
Vanderbilt used an extended 12-2 run to narrow its deficit significantly, to 35-29 with 3:59 left in the first half. Tyler Tanner is up to eight points.
Vanderbilt got its first field goal on the board shortly after the first media timeout but still trailed, 24-10, at the under-12 timeout after a 9-0 run from Oklahoma.
Oklahoma led, 13-3, with 15:45 remaining in the first half. The Commodores have yet to make a shot, scoring all their points on free throws.
Vanderbilt 82, Oklahoma 69
Duke Miles and Frankie Collins are out for Vanderbilt.
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Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter, @aria_gerson.
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