In College Station, Texas, Tyler Nickel delivered a standout performance for Vanderbilt, scoring 21 points with an impressive seven 3-pointers, leading his team to an unexpected 86-84 victory against the 12th-ranked Texas A&M on Wednesday evening.
The Commodores, with a record of 19-9 and 7-8 in the Southeastern Conference, found themselves seven points ahead with only 12 seconds remaining. Zhuric Phelps of Texas A&M made a crucial layup before his team regained possession following a turnover by Vanderbilt’s Tyler Tanner. Phelps then nailed a 3-pointer, reducing the gap to 86-84 with just 1.5 seconds on the clock.
In a tense finale, Vanderbilt’s Jason Edwards lost possession of the ball, which went out of bounds on Texas A&M’s side, providing the Aggies a last-second opportunity with only 0.2 seconds left. However, the Commodores intercepted the inbounds pass, securing their triumph.
Pharrel Payne was a standout performer for Texas A&M, scoring 23 points. Unfortunately, this loss marked the Aggies’ third consecutive defeat, raising their season tally to 20-8 and 9-6 in their conference, after having won five straight games earlier.
For Vanderbilt, this victory served as their second consecutive win against a team ranked in the AP Top 25, following their triumph over then-No. 21 Ole Miss on Saturday, enhancing their credentials for the NCAA Tournament.
On the other hand, Texas A&M’s inconsistency became apparent as they went over five minutes without a field goal in the second half. This lapse in performance highlights their need for a more reliable offense if they hope to end their regular season successfully, with challenging matches against No. 3 Florida and top-ranked Auburn looming on the horizon.
A pivotal moment in the game was Vanderbilt intercepting the inbounds pass, which effectively squashed the Aggies’ chances for a buzzer-beater.
A significant statistic from the game was the collective shooting performance at the free-throw line, with both teams attempting a total of 75 free throws. Vanderbilt converted 28 out of 36 attempts, while Texas A&M made 31 out of 39.
Upcoming, Texas A&M is set to visit No. 3 Florida on Saturday night, while Vanderbilt will face off against the 14th-ranked Missouri that same day.
