Tanner's Career Night Lifts Vandy Past Bama

Vanderbilt University's men's basketball team, ranked No. 11 nationally, secured a hard-fought 96-90 victory over No. 13 Alabama on Wednesday night. This win propelled the Commodores to an undefeated 15-0 record, marking their best start to a season in over a decade and only the second time in the program's 124-year history they have achieved this milestone.

The high-stakes matchup saw standout performances, including a career-high 29 points from Vanderbilt's Tyler Tanner. Despite a game with 63 combined fouls and two technicals against Alabama, the Commodores managed to extend their lead in the second half, fueled by Tanner's scoring and a critical technical foul on the Crimson Tide's coach. Alabama's offensive efforts, led by Amari Allen's season-high 25 points, were hampered by the departure of leading scorer Labaron Philon Jr. in the second half.

This victory was particularly significant for Vanderbilt as it also ended a five-game losing streak against Alabama at Memorial Gym. The game represented the first contest between two top-15 teams at Vanderbilt since January 5, 1974, adding historical weight to the Commodores' continued success. The intense foul trouble affected both teams, with multiple players fouling out, underscoring the physical nature of the conference clash.