Homefield — March Madness

McNeese StateNo. 12

VanderbiltNo. 5

FinaltruT

36.8%

36.0%

3PT

REB

AST

51.0%

37.5%

3PT

REB

AST

The 5-12 upset is the most reliable Cinderella bet in sports. 12-seeds have won 57 of 160 meetings (35.6%) since 1985 -- at least one goes down almost every year.

Tanner Does the Heavy Lifting, Vanderbilt Holds Off McNeese

Tyler Tanner's 26-point, five-assist night gave Vanderbilt enough cushion to survive a turnover-heavy second half and send the Cowboys home, 78-68.

Tanner was the steadiest thing on the floor for either team. His 26 points came on 7-of-16 shooting with nine free throw attempts, and he initiated enough offense (five assists, 7/16 from the field) that McNeese couldn't key on him without opening something else. He was the one Vanderbilt player who never looked rattled.

Duke Miles added 13 points and two steals, and his 4-of-9 efficiency from the field gave Vanderbilt a credible second scoring option when Tanner drew extra attention. Tyler Nickel knocked down three threes on eight attempts, giving the Commodores enough perimeter threat to keep the Cowboys from loading up inside.

The team-level story is that Vanderbilt's shooting efficiency bailed them out of a turnover hole they had no business digging: they committed 13 turnovers to McNeese's six, and the Cowboys finished with nine steals, yet Vanderbilt shot 51 percent from the field compared to McNeese's 36.8 percent on 68 attempts. McNeese grabbed 16 offensive rebounds and still couldn't generate enough second-chance points to close the gap, largely because their primary shot-creators, Larry Johnson (4-of-17) and Tyshawn Archie (6-of-16), combined to shoot 29 percent from the floor on 33 attempts.

Game Story

The Vanderbilt Commodores defeated the McNeese State Cowboys 78-68 in a solid all-around performance.•Tyler Tanner was the game's leading scorer with 26 points along with 6 rebounds and 5 assists.•Vanderbilt dominated from the field, shooting 51.0% compared to just 36.8% for McNeese State.•Vanderbilt struggled with 13 turnovers while McNeese State committed just 6.•Vanderbilt got to the line 20 times, converting 17 (85%).•The Vanderbilt Commodores defeated the McNeese State Cowboys 78-68 in a solid all-around performance.•Tyler Tanner was the game's leading scorer with 26 points along with 6 rebounds and 5 assists.•Vanderbilt dominated from the field, shooting 51.0% compared to just 36.8% for McNeese State.•Vanderbilt struggled with 13 turnovers while McNeese State committed just 6.•Vanderbilt got to the line 20 times, converting 17 (85%).•