NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In an electrifying showdown, Vanderbilt managed to secure a dramatic victory over No. 9 Kentucky, finishing the game with a score of 74-69. The pivotal moment arrived when Tyler Nickel drained a crucial 3-pointer with just 1:50 remaining, enabling the Commodores to take a lead they would not relinquish. This win marked Vanderbilt’s second consecutive upset victory over a Top 10 team at their home court, following their triumph over previously sixth-ranked Tennessee just a week prior. After this second court-storming celebration, the university will be on the lookout for potential penalties, especially considering their previous incident that resulted in a hefty fine of $250,000 from the league.
Leading the charge for Vanderbilt was Jason Edwards, who scored 18 points. Other key contributors included Devin McGlockton with 14 points, Nickel with 11, and Jaylen Carey rounding out the scoring with 10 points. This victory also marks a notable point in the season for Kentucky, which saw their record drop to 14-5 and 3-3 in the Southeastern Conference, marking the first time this season they have lost two consecutive games.
On the Kentucky side, Otega Oweh stood out with an impressive performance, posting 21 points and pulling down 12 rebounds. His teammates Ansley Almonor and Jaxson Robinson contributed with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Notably, this victory provided Vanderbilt their first win against Kentucky at Memorial Gym since 2016, a significant moment for both the team and its supporters.
One of the major factors that plagued Kentucky during this match was their inability to control possession, committing a total of 17 turnovers compared to just five by Vanderbilt. Point guard Lamont Butler was a notable contributor to this stat, tallying six turnovers before fouling out in the critical moments of the game.
Vanderbilt’s first-year head coach Mark Byington has been instrumental in reinvigorating the team’s performance at Memorial Gym, which saw its second straight sold-out crowd for this game—the first such occurrence since the 2011-12 season.
Key moments played out during the match, particularly after Kentucky had led at halftime with a score of 41-27. The Wildcats initially extended their lead to 58-51, but Vanderbilt quickly retaliated with a burst of energy, scoring 15 of the next 20 points to take a 66-63 advantage, highlighted by a crucial steal by McGlockton leading to a fast-break layup by Tyler Tanner.
An important statistic that defined the game’s conclusion was Vanderbilt’s ability to score the final six points, while Kentucky was left scoreless after Oweh’s layup with 2:56 on the clock, showcasing Vanderbilt’s closing resilience.
As the teams move forward, Kentucky will continue their two-game road journey with a matchup against Tennessee on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, Vanderbilt can use this momentum as they prepare for a two-game road swing, starting February 1 against Oklahoma.
