How a Tyler Tanner takeover led Vanderbilt basketball over Ole Miss in OT – The Tennessean

Vanderbilt basketball trailed for large portions of its game against Ole Miss at The Pavilion on March 3, but Tyler Tanner led the Commodores back.
No. 22 Vanderbilt (23-7, 10-7 SEC) got behind early and tried to make a comeback in the second half but went to overtime. Tanner took over, scoring 10 of his 34 points in overtime, with two rebounds, one assist and one steal as Vanderbilt won, 89-86.
“His ability to drive and score and get fouled and just do everything under the sun, steals and everything else,” Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington said on the postgame radio. “That guy was spectacular tonight.
“What he has to do in a game like this, it’s really amazing, because he’s got to make plays for himself and others, and his defense, five steals along with 34 points. And he, I thought, turned it on later on. He’s the best player on the court. And you get to the second half and overtime, and I’m glad he’s wearing a Vanderbilt shirt.”
Tanner had to play an even bigger role when AK Okereke, Devin McGlockton and Jalen Washington all fouled out between late second half and overtime. Okereke finished with 16 points, five rebounds and five assists, McGlockton had four points and 14 rebounds and Washington had seven points and three rebounds.
Vanderbilt forced 17 turnovers and got five steals from Tanner.
“We were able to turn them over for 17 turnovers for the game,” Byington said. ” … Offense was hard. It was, it was a strange game. Guys are getting shots they normally make. We started the game missing probably was five or six layups. And you know, you’re sitting there and you’re like, they’re making real difficult high-end shots. We’re missing layups. And you still gotta just figure it out. You can’t give in.”
While rebounding is typically a weakness for Vanderbilt, the Commodores put up a strong showing on the boards in this game, winning the overall rebounding battle 44-40 and picking up 22 offensive rebounds to Ole Miss’ 12.
As the clock wound down, Ole Miss was given a shot at the line. The Rebels player missed the second free throw, and Jayden Leverett got the rebound.
Not wanting Leverett to get sent to the line, Byington had instructed Leverett to immediately call timeout and he did. Instead, it was Tanner who ended up with the ball in his hands, getting fouled. He made both shots at the line. Then, when Ole Miss missed a final 3-point attempt, Tanner secured the rebound.
“Players got to step up make big plays in these moments,” Byington said.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at [email protected] or on X @aria_gerson.

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