Tyler Tanner scores career-high 26 as No. 17 Vanderbilt beats SMU in ACC/SEC Challenge

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tyler Tanner scored a career-high 26 points and No. 17 Vanderbilt remained undefeated with an 88-69 victory over SMU Wednesday night in the ACC/SEC Challenge.

Vanderbilt (9-0) improved to 11-1 at home against the Mustangs, and coach Mark Byington won back-to-back games in the ACC/SEC Challenge to begin his tenure with the Commodores. They beat Virginia Tech last season.

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The Commodores moved up seven spots in the new AP Top 25 rankings after winning three Battle 4 Atlantis title matches last week. They came in second averaging 97.9 points per game to start this season, and they shot 57.1% (36 of 63) against SMU.

Devin McGlockton added 13 points for Vanderbilt and Tyler Nickel had 12.

SMU (8-1) had won the last two games between these teams by winning the home-and-home matchup in 2020-21 and 2021-22.

Samet Yigitoglu led SMU with 16 points. Boopie Miller had 16, Jaron Pierre Jr. 13 and BJ Edwards 10.

The Mustangs scored the first four points and led for the final time at 5-4. Nickel broke the final tie at 6 with a 3-pointer, and Vanderbilt never trailed again. SMU pulled within 27-26 on a pair of Miller free throws. Vanderbilt finished the half making its final five shots for its largest lead at 48-38.

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Vanderbilt calmed down in the second half and SMU pulled within 57-51 on a 3-pointer from Pierre. The Commodores picked up six quick points off Tanner’s free throws, pushing it to 63-51 and leading by as many as 21 in the final minute.

To be continued

SMU: Plays Texas A&M on Sunday at Hoops Hype XL at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas.

Vanderbilt: Hosts Central Arkansas on Dec. 13.

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