Vanderbilt's March Madness Run Ends in Heartbreaker Against Nebraska

Commodores fall just short of Sweet 16 berth after thrilling back-and-forth battle with Cornhuskers

Mar. 22, 2026 at 4:37am

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Vanderbilt's men's basketball team saw its NCAA Tournament run come to an end with a narrow 74-72 loss to Nebraska in the Round of 32. The Commodores fought back from a first-half deficit but couldn't complete the comeback, with a last-second shot by star guard Tyler Tanner just missing the mark. Despite the disappointing finish, Vanderbilt head coach Mark Byington praised his team's effort and chemistry, saying this year's squad will be remembered fondly in Nashville.

Why it matters

Vanderbilt was seeking its first Sweet 16 appearance since 2007, but fell just short against a tough Nebraska team playing in front of a raucous home crowd. The loss marks the end of the college careers for standout players like Tanner and Tyler Nickel, who gave it their all in a thrilling back-and-forth contest.

The details

Vanderbilt trailed by seven at halftime but battled back to take a late lead, only to see Nebraska regain control in the final minutes. Tanner finished with a team-high 27 points, while Nickel added 18 points, but the Commodores' 41.4% shooting from the field and 35.1% from three-point range ultimately proved too much to overcome against the efficient Cornhuskers, who shot 55.8% overall and 47.4% from deep.

  • The game was played on March 21, 2026.
  • Vanderbilt had advanced to the Round of 32 by defeating 12-seed McNeese in the opening round.

The players

Tyler Tanner

A standout sophomore guard for Vanderbilt who led the team with 27 points in the loss to Nebraska.

Tyler Nickel

A senior forward for Vanderbilt who scored 18 points, including four three-pointers, in the final game of his college career.

Mark Byington

The head coach of the Vanderbilt men's basketball team, who praised his team's effort and chemistry despite the disappointing end to their season.

Jalen Washington

A Vanderbilt player who spoke about the team's need to "weather the storm" against the hostile Nebraska crowd.

Duke Miles

A Vanderbilt player who expressed confidence in the team's ability to make a deep NCAA Tournament run prior to the loss to Nebraska.

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What they’re saying

“It hurts pretty bad being that close, especially [in such a] hard-fought game. It was electric the whole time through. It hurts that the season is over.”

— Tyler Tanner

“Staying together, staying connected, weathering the storm, and just knowing that it's a long game. We try to think about the game in four-minute increments, so we just try to stay together and win those little segments of the game.”

— Jalen Washington, Vanderbilt player

“I saw the guys coming in, [with a] freshman like Chandler Bing, and [Washington], AK Okereke and the other guys. Watching Tanner step up and Nickel — just shout out to the whole team. Just watching, I knew that we were going to make a deep run. The job is not done yet. We still have more to go.”

— Duke Miles, Vanderbilt player

“This team is going to be remembered for a long time in Nashville and Vanderbilt for the things they've done. It's an incredible team. You can see why I'm so proud and why I love them so much. They care about each other. They care about winning. They care about the right things. They did not want it to end. They love each other. That's not in every locker room. I'm really going to miss this group. I'm really, really going to miss this group.”

— Mark Byington, Vanderbilt head coach

What’s next

Vanderbilt head coach Mark Byington will now turn his attention to rebuilding the roster through the NCAA transfer portal, as the team is set to lose several key players including Tanner and Nickel.

The takeaway

Despite the heartbreaking loss, Vanderbilt's 2025-26 season will be remembered fondly for the team's strong chemistry, resilience, and thrilling March Madness run. While the Commodores fell just short of the Sweet 16, this year's squad proved it could compete with the best teams in the country and laid a foundation for future success under coach Byington.