Vanderbilt’s Dramatic Upset at NCAA Tournament

No. 5 Vanderbilt came tantalizingly close to a moment that could go down in program history, right before the ball eventually fell.

Tyler Tanner’s incredible shot from beyond half court propelled the Commodores to a 74-72 victory over No. 4 Nebraska, securing their spot in the Sweet 16.

Nebraska started strong, leading 39-32 at halftime and at one point holding a 10-point advantage. Yet, Vanderbilt rallied back, taking a five-point lead with just over five minutes remaining.

The Cornhuskers responded with a quick 6-0 run to regain the lead. However, Tanner’s layup put Vanderbilt ahead again at 72-70 with under a minute left, marking his 27 points for the night.

But those were the last points Tanner would score. Lenk Mast managed to tie the game with a putback with 37 seconds to go. Vanderbilt’s Chandler Bing had a chance to regain the lead, but he missed his shot.

In a quick turn of events, Nebraska raced down the court. Price Sandfort found Braden Pfleger, who executed a contested layup, taking the lead with just 2.2 seconds left.

Vanderbilt called a timeout, and on the inbound, the ball went to Tanner, who had been on fire throughout the game. Pulling back from half court, he delivered a shot reminiscent of Gordon Hayward’s famous attempt in the 2010 national championship against Duke. Everyone held their breath as the ball danced on the rim—first against the backboard, then the rim, before finally falling away.

The crowd, largely Nebraska supporters in Oklahoma City, was initially stunned. But relief quickly transitioned into a celebratory atmosphere, painting the scene in red.

This was Nebraska’s first journey to the Sweet 16 after eight previous attempts, and, interestingly enough, their very first victory in a tournament match.

Four Cornhuskers successfully scored in double digits, with both Sandfort and Frazier contributing 15 points each. Nebraska will next face the winner of the matchup between No. 1 Florida and No. 9 Iowa.