VANDY

No. 11 Vanderbilt keeps undefeated season alive with 83-71 victory over South Carolina

AP
Jan 03, 2026

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) Tyler Tanner had 19 points and a career-high 14 assists, AK Okereke scored 17 and No. 11 Vanderbilt Commodores improved to 14-0 with an 83-71 victory over South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday.

The Commodores (1-0 Southeastern Conference) are off to their best start since the 2007-08 team opened 16-0. They did it against the Gamecocks (9-5, 0-1) without leading scorer Duke Miles, who missed his second straight contest with an undisclosed injury.

Miles absence didn't slow down Vanderbilt one bit. It used an early 13-0 run - which started on Okereke's 3-pointer - to lead 15-4 over the first six minutes. When South Carolina closed 34-30 with 4:13 before the half, Vanderbilt ended the period with an 8-4 run sparked by another three from Okereke to lead 42-34.

Vanderbilt ended any chance of a Gamecocks' rally with a 12-3 run to start the second half and were never pressured the rest of the way.

The Commodores face a test to keep their streak going next time out when they return home to play No. 14 Alabama. Should they get past the Tide, they'll look to match their program-best 16-0 start at home next weekend against LSU.

If Vanderbilt shows this kind of depth, it will be difficult for any opponent to slow them down. The Commodores finished with five players in double figures and shot over 50% from the field. They outrebounded the Gamecocks 37-25 and did not have a shot blocked by South Carolina.

Tyler Nickel had 16 points with four of Vanderbilt's 10 3-pointers. Devin McGlockton added 15 points for the Commodores.

Elijah Strong led South Carolina with 17 points.

Vanderbilt: Hosts Alabama on Wednesday night.

South Carolina: Visits LSU on Tuesday night.

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1st Half
VANDY
Commodores
42
SCAR
Gamecocks
34

Time		Play	Score
20:00		(Commodores gains possession)
19:29		AK Okereke misses two point layup
19:27		Elijah Strong defensive rebound
19:03		Elijah Strong misses three point jump shot
19:01		Commodores defensive rebound
18:49		Tyler Tanner misses two point jump shot
18:47		Elijah Strong defensive rebound
18:30	+2	Kobe Knox makes two point jump shot	0-2
18:03		AK Okereke misses three point jump shot
18:01		Meechie Johnson defensive rebound
17:52		Myles Stute misses three point jump shot
17:50		Tyler Tanner defensive rebound
17:41	+2	Tyler Tanner makes two point layup	2-2
17:23		Meechie Johnson turnover (bad pass)
17:16		Tyler Nickel offensive foul
17:16		Tyler Nickel turnover (offensive foul)
17:02	+2	Mike Sharavjamts makes two point jump shot	2-4
16:46	+3	AK Okereke makes three point jump shot (Tyler Nickel assists)	5-4
16:30		Kobe Knox misses three point jump shot
16:28		Devin McGlockton defensive rebound
16:09		Elijah Strong shooting foul (Tyler Tanner draws the foul)
16:09	+1	Tyler Tanner makes regular free throw 1 of 2	6-4
16:09	+1	Tyler Tanner makes regular free throw 2 of 2	7-4
15:54		Meechie Johnson misses three point jump shot
15:52		Chandler Bing defensive rebound
15:39	+3	Tyler Tanner makes three point jump shot	10-4
15:13		Mike Sharavjamts misses three point jump shot
15:11		Tyler Harris defensive rebound
15:10		Hayden Assemian personal foul
15:10		TV timeout
14:53	+3	Tyler Nickel makes three point jump shot (Tyler Tanner assists)	13-4
14:23		Meechie Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Jalen Washington steals)
14:13		AK Okereke misses two point jump shot
14:11		Myles Stute personal foul
14:06	+2	Jalen Washington makes two point layup (Tyler Tanner assists)	15-4
13:48	+2	Myles Stute makes two point jump shot (Kobe Knox assists)	15-6
13:30	+2	Chandler Bing makes two point layup	17-6
13:09		Tyler Nickel shooting foul (Kobe Knox draws the foul)
13:09	+1	Kobe Knox makes regular free throw 1 of 2	17-7
13:09	+1	Kobe Knox makes regular free throw 2 of 2	17-8
12:55		Chandler Bing misses three point jump shot
12:53		Hayden Assemian defensive rebound
12:43		Eli Ellis misses three point jump shot
12:41		Tyler Harris defensive rebound
12:36		Tyler Harris misses two point layup
12:34		Jordan Butler defensive rebound
12:19		Jalen Washington blocks Kobe Knox's two point layup
12:12		Grant Polk misses three point jump shot
12:10		Chandler Bing defensive rebound
12:05		Jordan Butler shooting foul (Tyler Tanner draws the foul)
12:05	+1	Tyler Tanner makes regular free throw 1 of 2	18-8
12:05	+1	Tyler Tanner makes regular free throw 2 of 2	19-8
11:40		Mike Sharavjamts misses two point layup
11:38		Chandler Bing defensive rebound
11:38		TV timeout
11:28		Devin McGlockton misses three point jump shot
11:26		Tyler Harris personal foul
11:01	+2	Eli Ellis makes two point layup	19-10
11:01		Tyler Harris shooting foul (Eli Ellis draws the foul)
11:01	+1	Eli Ellis makes regular free throw 1 of 1	19-11
10:41	+2	AK Okereke makes two point layup	21-11
10:08		Tyler Tanner personal foul
9:51		Eli Ellis misses three point jump shot
9:49		Mike James defensive rebound
9:40		Tyler Tanner misses two point jump shot
9:38		Devin McGlockton offensive rebound
9:35	+2	Devin McGlockton makes two point layup	23-11
9:12	+3	Meechie Johnson makes three point jump shot (Mike Sharavjamts assists)	23-14
8:55	+2	Tyler Tanner makes two point layup	25-14
8:38	+3	Elijah Strong makes three point jump shot (Meechie Johnson assists)	25-17
8:05	+2	Devin McGlockton makes two point jump shot (Tyler Tanner assists)	27-17
7:40		Mike Sharavjamts misses two point layup
7:38		Mike James defensive rebound
7:18		Tyler Tanner misses two point layup
7:16		Myles Stute defensive rebound
7:11	+3	Myles Stute makes three point jump shot (Meechie Johnson assists)	27-20
6:45	+2	AK Okereke makes two point layup	29-20
6:29	+3	Myles Stute makes three point jump shot (Meechie Johnson assists)	29-23
6:13	+3	Devin McGlockton makes three point jump shot (Tyler Tanner assists)	32-23
5:48		Elijah Strong misses two point jump shot
5:46		Mike James defensive rebound
5:42		TV timeout
5:33	+2	AK Okereke makes two point dunk	34-23
5:15		Miles Keeffe shooting foul (Meechie Johnson draws the foul)
5:15		Meechie Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:15	+1	Meechie Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	34-24
5:08		AK Okereke turnover (bad pass) (Myles Stute steals)
5:03	+2	Kobe Knox makes two point dunk (Meechie Johnson assists)	34-26
4:50		Miles Keeffe turnover (lost ball) (Meechie Johnson steals)
4:27	+3	Myles Stute makes three point jump shot (Meechie Johnson assists)	34-29
4:15		AK Okereke misses three point jump shot
4:13		EJ Walker defensive rebound
4:13		Jalen Washington personal foul
4:13	+1	EJ Walker makes regular free throw 1 of 2	34-30
4:13		EJ Walker misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:13		AK Okereke defensive rebound
3:59	+3	AK Okereke makes three point jump shot (Tyler Tanner assists)	37-30
3:26		AK Okereke blocks Eli Ellis's two point layup
3:24		AK Okereke defensive rebound
3:08	+2	Jalen Washington makes two point alley-oop dunk (Tyler Tanner assists)	39-30
2:38	+2	EJ Walker makes two point layup (Mike Sharavjamts assists)	39-32
2:19		AK Okereke misses three point jump shot
2:17		Jalen Washington offensive rebound
2:14		Tyler Nickel misses three point jump shot
2:12		Gamecocks defensive rebound
2:10		TV timeout
1:53		Meechie Johnson turnover (bad pass)
1:42		Devin McGlockton misses two point hook shot
1:40		Mike Sharavjamts defensive rebound
1:29		Meechie Johnson misses two point layup
1:27		Tyler Harris defensive rebound
1:11	+3	Tyler Harris makes three point jump shot (Tyler Tanner assists)	42-32
0:44		Mike Sharavjamts misses two point layup
0:42		Jalen Washington defensive rebound
0:36		Commodores 30 second timeout
0:22		Tyler Tanner misses two point jump shot
0:20		Elijah Strong defensive rebound
0:03	+2	Meechie Johnson makes two point layup	42-34
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
VANDY
Commodores
41
SCAR
Gamecocks
37

Time		Play	Score
19:41		Tyler Harris misses two point layup
19:39		Elijah Strong defensive rebound
19:17	+2	Elijah Strong makes two point jump shot (Kobe Knox assists)	42-36
19:07	+3	AK Okereke makes three point jump shot (Tyler Tanner assists)	45-36
18:49		Myles Stute misses three point jump shot
18:47		Tyler Harris defensive rebound
18:41		Myles Stute shooting foul (Tyler Tanner draws the foul)
18:41	+1	Tyler Tanner makes regular free throw 1 of 2	46-36
18:41	+1	Tyler Tanner makes regular free throw 2 of 2	47-36
18:22		Meechie Johnson misses three point jump shot
18:20		Tyler Nickel defensive rebound
18:11		Devin McGlockton misses three point jump shot
18:09		Myles Stute defensive rebound
17:59		Elijah Strong misses three point jump shot
17:57		AK Okereke defensive rebound
17:42		Kobe Knox personal foul (Tyler Tanner draws the foul)
17:25	+2	Tyler Tanner makes two point layup	49-36
17:15		Tyler Tanner shooting foul (Meechie Johnson draws the foul)
17:15		Meechie Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
17:15	+1	Meechie Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	49-37
17:04	+3	Tyler Nickel makes three point jump shot (Tyler Tanner assists)	52-37
16:36		Meechie Johnson misses two point layup
16:34		Tyler Tanner defensive rebound
16:24	+2	Tyler Nickel makes two point jump shot	54-37
16:06		Elijah Strong misses three point jump shot
16:04		Tyler Tanner defensive rebound
15:43		Devin McGlockton misses three point jump shot
15:41		Myles Stute defensive rebound
15:31	+2	Elijah Strong makes two point layup	54-39
15:31		Tyler Nickel shooting foul (Elijah Strong draws the foul)
15:31		TV timeout
15:31	+1	Elijah Strong makes regular free throw 1 of 1	54-40
15:14		Jalen Washington turnover (lost ball)
14:49		Eli Ellis misses two point hook shot
14:47		Jalen Washington defensive rebound
14:42	+2	Devin McGlockton makes two point layup (Tyler Tanner assists)	56-40
14:30		Meechie Johnson misses two point layup
14:28		Jalen Washington defensive rebound
14:12		Devin McGlockton misses two point layup
14:10		Hayden Assemian defensive rebound
13:56		Tyler Harris blocks Myles Stute's two point layup
13:54		Myles Stute offensive rebound
13:54		Tyler Tanner shooting foul (Myles Stute draws the foul)
13:54	+1	Myles Stute makes regular free throw 1 of 2	56-41
13:54		Myles Stute misses regular free throw 2 of 2
13:54		Jalen Washington defensive rebound
13:42		Tyler Tanner turnover (bad pass) (Myles Stute steals)
13:21		Myles Stute misses three point jump shot
13:19		Tyler Nickel defensive rebound
13:09		Eli Ellis shooting foul (Jalen Washington draws the foul)
13:09	+1	Jalen Washington makes regular free throw 1 of 2	57-41
13:09	+1	Jalen Washington makes regular free throw 2 of 2	58-41
12:55		Meechie Johnson misses three point jump shot
12:53		Eli Ellis offensive rebound
12:53	+2	Eli Ellis makes two point layup	58-43
12:35		Jalen Washington misses two point layup
12:33		Eli Ellis defensive rebound
12:21		Kobe Knox turnover (AK Okereke steals)
12:16		Kobe Knox personal foul (AK Okereke draws the foul)
12:03		AK Okereke misses two point layup
12:01		Jalen Washington offensive rebound
12:01		Jalen Washington misses two point layup
11:59		AK Okereke offensive rebound
11:54	+2	AK Okereke makes two point layup	60-43
11:46		Kobe Knox misses three point jump shot
11:44		Myles Stute offensive rebound
11:41		Eli Ellis misses three point jump shot
11:39		Mike Sharavjamts offensive rebound
11:35	+2	Myles Stute makes two point dunk (Mike Sharavjamts assists)	60-45
11:20		Jalen Washington turnover (lost ball)
11:20		TV timeout
11:02	+2	Elijah Strong makes two point jump shot (Kobe Knox assists)	60-47
10:43	+2	Tyler Nickel makes two point jump shot	62-47
10:43		Mike Sharavjamts shooting foul (Tyler Nickel draws the foul)
10:43		Tyler Nickel misses regular free throw 1 of 1
10:43		AK Okereke offensive rebound
10:26		Tyler Tanner misses three point jump shot
10:24		AK Okereke offensive rebound
10:21	+3	Tyler Nickel makes three point jump shot (AK Okereke assists)	65-47
9:52		Elijah Strong misses two point jump shot
9:50		Jordan Butler offensive rebound
9:46	+3	Elijah Strong makes three point jump shot (Jordan Butler assists)	65-50
9:23		Kobe Knox personal foul (Tyler Nickel draws the foul)
9:14	+2	Devin McGlockton makes two point jump shot (Tyler Tanner assists)	67-50
9:01		Mike James personal foul
8:50		Devin McGlockton shooting foul (Elijah Strong draws the foul)
8:50	+1	Elijah Strong makes regular free throw 1 of 2	67-51
8:50	+1	Elijah Strong makes regular free throw 2 of 2	67-52
8:24		Elijah Strong shooting foul (Chandler Bing draws the foul)
8:24	+1	Chandler Bing makes regular free throw 1 of 2	68-52
8:24		Chandler Bing misses regular free throw 2 of 2
8:24		Mike Sharavjamts defensive rebound
8:12	+2	Eli Ellis makes two point layup (Elijah Strong assists)	68-54
7:52		Mike James turnover (bad pass) (Elijah Strong steals)
7:48	+2	Eli Ellis makes two point layup (Elijah Strong assists)	68-56
7:48		Commodores 30 second timeout
7:48		TV timeout
7:38		Mike Sharavjamts personal foul (Tyler Tanner draws the foul)
7:38		TV timeout
7:38	+1	Tyler Tanner makes regular free throw 1 of 2	69-56
7:38	+1	Tyler Tanner makes regular free throw 2 of 2	70-56
7:12		Elijah Strong misses three point jump shot
7:10		Tyler Harris defensive rebound
6:45	+2	Jalen Washington makes two point layup (Tyler Tanner assists)	72-56
6:17	+2	Elijah Strong makes two point layup	72-58
6:01		Tyler Harris misses two point jump shot
5:59		Devin McGlockton offensive rebound
5:53		Tyler Nickel misses three point jump shot
5:51		Myles Stute defensive rebound
5:34	+2	Mike Sharavjamts makes two point layup	72-60
5:17	+2	Devin McGlockton makes two point jump shot (Tyler Tanner assists)	74-60
5:00		Mike Sharavjamts misses three point jump shot
4:58		Tyler Harris defensive rebound
4:39		Tyler Harris misses three point jump shot
4:37		Devin McGlockton personal foul (Elijah Strong draws the foul)
4:16		AK Okereke shooting foul (Mike Sharavjamts draws the foul)
4:16	+1	Mike Sharavjamts makes regular free throw 1 of 2	74-61
4:16	+1	Mike Sharavjamts makes regular free throw 2 of 2	74-62
4:06	+2	Devin McGlockton makes two point layup (Tyler Nickel assists)	76-62
3:54		Myles Stute misses three point jump shot
3:52		Jalen Washington defensive rebound
3:31	+3	Tyler Nickel makes three point jump shot (Tyler Tanner assists)	79-62
3:17		TV timeout
2:58	+2	Mike Sharavjamts makes two point layup	79-64
2:28		Tyler Nickel misses three point jump shot
2:26		Hayden Assemian defensive rebound
2:15		Kobe Knox misses three point jump shot
2:13		Tyler Tanner defensive rebound
1:46		Devin McGlockton misses three point jump shot
1:44		Jalen Washington offensive rebound
1:24		Tyler Nickel misses two point jump shot
1:22		Meechie Johnson defensive rebound
1:22		Devin McGlockton personal foul (Meechie Johnson draws the foul)
1:22	+1	Meechie Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	79-65
1:22	+1	Meechie Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	79-66
1:14		Mike Sharavjamts personal foul (Jalen Washington draws the foul)
1:14		Jalen Washington misses regular free throw 1 of 1
1:14		Hayden Assemian defensive rebound
0:55	+2	Mike Sharavjamts makes two point layup	79-68
0:54		Gamecocks 30 second timeout
0:47		Kobe Knox personal foul (Jalen Washington draws the foul)
0:47	+1	Jalen Washington makes regular free throw 1 of 2	80-68
0:47	+1	Jalen Washington makes regular free throw 2 of 2	81-68
0:33	+3	Mike Sharavjamts makes three point jump shot (Meechie Johnson assists)	81-71
0:33		Kobe Knox personal foul (Tyler Tanner draws the foul)
0:33	+1	Tyler Tanner makes regular free throw 1 of 2	82-71
0:33	+1	Tyler Tanner makes regular free throw 2 of 2	83-71
0:15		Meechie Johnson misses three point jump shot
0:13		Tyler Nickel defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Tyler Nickel defensive rebound