Vanderbilt Edges Arkansas in SEC Tournament Championship

Commodores defeat Razorbacks 93-88 to claim third conference title

Mar. 15, 2026 at 9:36am

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The fourth-seeded Vanderbilt Commodores defeated the third-seeded Arkansas Razorbacks 93-88 in the 2026 SEC Tournament championship game on Sunday. Vanderbilt, who stunned top-seeded Florida in the semifinals, won their third SEC Tournament title and first since 2012. Arkansas, who outlasted 15th-seeded Ole Miss in overtime in the other semifinal, were seeking their second conference tournament crown and first since 2000.

Why it matters

The SEC Tournament championship is a highly anticipated annual event, with the winner earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. This matchup featured two of the conference's top teams, providing an exciting conclusion to the tournament and setting the stage for the upcoming Big Dance.

The details

Vanderbilt was led by Tyler Tanner and Duke Miles, who each scored 18 points. The Commodores had six players score 10 or more points. Arkansas was paced by Darius Acuff Jr., who scored a game-high 21.3 points. The Razorbacks had four players reach double figures. The game was tightly contested, with Vanderbilt holding a narrow 93-88 victory.

  • The SEC Tournament championship game was played on Sunday, March 16, 2026.
  • Vanderbilt stunned top-seeded Florida 91-74 in the semifinals on Saturday, March 15, 2026.
  • Arkansas outlasted 15th-seeded Ole Miss 93-90 in overtime in the other semifinal on March 15, 2026.

The players

Tyler Tanner

A key player for Vanderbilt, scoring 18 points in the championship game.

Duke Miles

Also scored 18 points for the Commodores in the SEC Tournament final.

Darius Acuff Jr.

The leading scorer for Arkansas, pouring in a game-high 21.3 points.

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What they’re saying

“This is a huge win for our program. We've worked hard all season to get to this point, and I'm proud of the way our team competed and came together to win the SEC Tournament championship.”

— Jerry Stackhouse, Vanderbilt Head Coach (Vanderbilt Athletics)

“It's disappointing to come up short, but I'm proud of the effort our team put forth throughout the tournament. We'll regroup and get ready for the NCAA Tournament.”

— Eric Musselman, Arkansas Head Coach (Arkansas Athletics)

What’s next

Vanderbilt and Arkansas will both await their seeding and matchups for the upcoming NCAA Tournament, which begins later this month.

The takeaway

Vanderbilt's victory in the SEC Tournament championship game showcases the program's resurgence and ability to compete at the highest level in the conference. Meanwhile, Arkansas' run to the final demonstrates the team's talent and potential, setting the stage for an exciting NCAA Tournament appearance.