Men’s Basketball: Three Takeaways from Vanderbilt’s 89-86 overtime road victory at Ole Miss – The Vanderbilt Hustler

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No. 24 Vanderbilt (23-7, 10-7 SEC) traveled to Oxford, Mississippi, to take on Ole Miss, who the Commodores defeated 71-68 just over a month ago on Jan. 31. This time around, Mark Byington’s squad once again narrowly escaped with a victory, surviving an overtime battle, 89-86. 
Despite leading for just over six minutes and seeing its three premier frontcourt pieces foul out, Vanderbilt delivered in the most important moments. This win restores confidence to the Black and Gold after previously dropping three of their last four games — all to weaker opponents. While it was a messy win riddled with stoppages, the defeat provided momentum for the Commodores, who are desperately searching to rediscover their early-season success with March Madness quickly approaching.  
The Hustler broke down what contributed to Vanderbilt’s nail-biting victory in Mississippi.  
Tenacious Tyler Tanner 
In college basketball, a team greatly benefits from possessing the clear best player on the floor. Tyler Tanner was playing on a different level than the other 9 players sharing the hardwood with him in Mississippi. The sophomore scored 34 points, 10 of which came in overtime, to will the Commodores to a tight comeback.  
Tanner’s remarkable efficiency was on full display, burying 11 of his 19 attempts from the field and sinking 3 of his 6 attempted triples. Tanner is also a merchant at getting to the foul line, knocking down 9 of his 12 free throw attempts. If scoring wasn’t enough, the Brentwood, Tennessee, native also led the team in assists with seven.  
In clutch time, Tanner showed why he isn’t just a good player; he’s elite. Despite offensive struggles from Tyler Nickel and Duke Miles along with AK Okereke, Devin McGlockton, and Jalen Washington fouling out, the Commodore signal-caller put this game on his back and single-handedly dragged this group across the finish line.  
Tanner’s ability to take over the game is a testament to his leadership as, regardless of the pieces around him, he will figure out a way to secure a win. Vanderbilt is extremely lucky to have Tanner, as when they enter a single elimination format, carrying a player that can take over in isolation and score at all three levels in the clutch is critical for making a deep run.   
Relentless at the rim 
One of the main criticisms of Vanderbilt this season in conference play has been its inability to rebound, particularly on the offensive end. The Commodores rank No. 14 in the SEC in total offensive rebounds (304) and are often challenged when facing traditional centers on opposing teams. However, this was certainly not the case against Ole Miss.  
Vanderbilt dominated the offensive glass, hauling in 22 offensive boards compared to just 12 for the Rebels. To show how uncharacteristic this truly was, the ‘Dores average just 10.5 offensive rebounds each game. These rebounding successes resulted in 19 second-chance points for the Commodores compared to just 13 for Ole Miss. Dominating on the glass wore down the Rebels’ defense and allowed Byington to have the upper-hand when it came to scoring in the paint.
This was in large part due to McGlockton who grabbed eight offensive boards despite eventually fouling out. McGlockton, while still undersized for a center, provides Vanderbilt with the energy and toughness in the frontcourt it desperately needs. The senior and company should continue to stress boxing out on offense to create more second-chance opportunities for a team that typically is forced to win games with its deep-ball shooting.  
Nickel nightmare continues 
Much of Vanderbilt’s early season success was due to its sharpshooting forward who catches fire and feeds off a rhythm. Nickel is an elite shooter off the catch and effectively spreads the floor in a lineup containing two ball-dominant guards and two non-floor-spacing forwards. He allows Tanner and Miles to operate in isolation while keeping his defender occupied, keeping the defense on their toes as he can knock down a 3-pointer at any time. The senior doesn’t only bury open triples, but he consistently drills contested looks from near the logo.  
Nickel leads the team in 3-point percentage (40.9%) and averages over three made shots from the perimeter each game. However, he has struggled immensely over the last couple weeks, resulting in Vanderbilt’s offense losing an entire dimension. The Harrisonburg, Virginia, native has converted just 6 of his 33 attempted 3-pointers in Vanderbilt’s last four games, resulting in a 18% perimeter shooting clip over that stretch. Despite drilling a deep ball during overtime against the Rebels, the forward cashed just 1 of his 7 attempted triples.  
Nickel is too talented to bench; when he heats up from distance, he becomes every opponent’s worst nightmare. However, when he isn’t draining his looks, Tanner is often forced into double coverage, disrupting Vanderbilt’s offensive flow. Nickel is a true x-factor as his explosive runs adds another layer to the Commodores and takes pressure off his teammates. Look for Byington to rejuvenate Nickel’s confidence by getting him involved early and often against Tennessee, as having the sharpshooter back come tournament time is essential to this Commodore offense.  
The Commodores close out their regular season on the road against Tennessee on Saturday, March 7, with tipoff set for 1 p.m. CST.  
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