Vanderbilt Freshman Chandler Bing Comes Up Clutch in Road Win Over Tennessee

Bing's nine points, including a key three-pointer, helped the Commodores hold off a late Tennessee rally.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Vanderbilt freshman Chandler Bing made several crucial plays down the stretch, including a timely three-pointer, to help the Commodores secure an 86-82 road victory over in-state rival Tennessee. Bing's nine points in the game, seven of which came in the second half, played a big role in Vanderbilt staving off a late Volunteers comeback attempt in front of a raucous crowd at Thompson-Boling Arena.

Why it matters

Bing's performance highlighted the young player's potential and ability to make an immediate impact for Vanderbilt, who are looking to build on their strong start to the season. The win over Tennessee also gives the Commodores a quality road victory against a conference foe early in the year.

The details

With Vanderbilt leading by just five points late in the second half, Bing knocked down a crucial three-pointer to push the lead back to eight and quiet the Tennessee crowd. Earlier in the half, Bing had also scored on a coast-to-coast drive for a dunk that helped energize the Vanderbilt team. Though his overall stat line may not jump off the page, Bing's timely baskets and strong defensive effort were instrumental in the Commodores holding on for the victory.

  • Bing hit a three-pointer to push Vanderbilt's lead to 72-64 with under 5 minutes remaining.
  • Earlier in the second half, Bing scored on a coast-to-coast drive for a dunk to extend Vanderbilt's lead.

The players

Chandler Bing

A freshman guard for the Vanderbilt Commodores who made several key plays down the stretch to help secure the road victory over Tennessee.

Mark Byington

The head coach of the Vanderbilt Commodores, who praised Bing's performance and noted the freshman's potential to be an impact player for the team.

Amari Evans

A Tennessee player who hit a three-pointer to cut Vanderbilt's lead to five points late in the game, setting the stage for Bing's clutch response.

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What they’re saying

“Chandler Bing was phenomenal. You mention the three he made, the dunk was great. I thought his defense was really good. He guarded Gillespie for most of the night.”

— Mark Byington, Vanderbilt Head Coach

“It's kind of crazy. We took him late in the spring last year and just thought he had a chance to be good down the road. And we didn't even know he could be this type of impact player in his freshman year.”

— Mark Byington, Vanderbilt Head Coach

“That's an 18-year-old out there playing well in this type of situation of the game. So, the future's bright for him.”

— Mark Byington, Vanderbilt Head Coach

What’s next

Vanderbilt will look to build on this quality road win as they continue SEC play, with their next game coming at home against Kentucky on March 15th.

The takeaway

Chandler Bing's clutch performance off the bench for Vanderbilt showcased the freshman's potential to be a key contributor for the Commodores, both now and in the future. His ability to make timely plays under pressure demonstrated the value of Vanderbilt's coaching staff taking a chance on him late in the recruiting process.