Vanderbilt Tops Auburn in Impressive Road Win

Commodores coach Mark Byington credits killer mindset for 84-76 victory

Feb. 11, 2026 at 12:55am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The 19th-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores defeated the Auburn Tigers 84-76 on the road, led by strong performances from Tyler Tanner (25 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists) and Jalen Washington (22 points on 7-of-8 shooting). Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington said his team had their "minds made up" to get the win, while Washington stressed the importance of setting the tone early with an aggressive approach.

Why it matters

The victory marks Vanderbilt's fourth win in their last five games, continuing their strong season and solidifying their status as a potential NCAA Tournament threat. The Commodores have now reached the 20-win mark for the first time since the 2011-12 season under Byington's leadership.

The details

Vanderbilt closed the first half on a 16-5 run and never relinquished the lead despite a few challenges from Auburn. The Commodores played without key players Duke Miles and Frankie Collins but still managed to pull off the impressive road win.

  • The game took place on Tuesday, February 11, 2026 at Neville Arena in Auburn, Alabama.

The players

Mark Byington

The head coach of the Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball team, who led his squad to the impressive road victory over Auburn.

Tyler Tanner

The Vanderbilt player who led the team in scoring with 25 points, while also contributing 4 rebounds and 6 assists.

Jalen Washington

The Vanderbilt senior center who scored 22 points on 7-of-8 shooting, stressing the importance of setting the tone early with an aggressive approach.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I thought our guys had their minds made up. We weren't leaving here without a win.”

— Mark Byington, Head Coach, Vanderbilt Commodores

“We knew we had to come out aggressive, make a statement in the first half, in the first four minutes, so I felt like that's what we did. We executed well, we competed, and we just played hard all 40 minutes.”

— Jalen Washington, Senior Center, Vanderbilt Commodores

What’s next

Vanderbilt will look to continue their strong season as they prepare for their next SEC matchup.

The takeaway

Vanderbilt's impressive road victory over Auburn showcases the team's potential as a threat in the NCAA Tournament, with coach Mark Byington and players like Tyler Tanner and Jalen Washington leading the way with a killer mindset and aggressive approach.