Vanderbilt’s unstoppable underdog team achieved an unexpected victory over No. 24 Ole Miss in a thrilling Southeastern Conference game in Nashville, Tennessee. Led by Chris Manon’s 16 points and clutch free throws from Tyler Nickel and Devin McGlockton, the Commodores secured a hard-fought 77-72 win.
Despite Ole Miss rallying back from a 19-point deficit in the first half to briefly take the lead, Vanderbilt fought back and executed a crucial 9-0 run, capped off by Tyler Tanner’s layup, to regain control and pull ahead 71-64 with just over three minutes remaining.
The Rebels put up a fierce fight, narrowing the gap to 73-70, but Vanderbilt maintained composure and sealed the victory with key free throws from Nickel and McGlockton in the final moments. Ole Miss missed opportunities to tie the game with missed 3-pointers, resulting in their second consecutive defeat.
Jason Edwards contributed 15 points for Vanderbilt, with Nickel and McGlockton adding 13 and 10 points respectively, as the Commodores snapped a three-game losing streak. On the other side, Malik Dia led Ole Miss with 22 points, supported by Sean Pedulla’s 21 points and Jaylen Murray’s 10 points.
Vanderbilt dominated early in the game, establishing a 16-6 lead highlighted by a three-pointer from Jason Edwards. The Commodores extended their advantage to 16 points before halftime, but Ole Miss fought back with a strong performance to close the deficit to 41-33 at the break.
In the second half, Ole Miss surged ahead with a 14-5 run to take a brief lead, but Vanderbilt responded with resilience and determination to secure the victory in front of their home crowd. It was a remarkable display of grit and teamwork as the underdog Commodores defied the odds and emerged triumphant in a thrilling contest that showcased the true essence of college basketball.
