Vanderbilt fans risk a hefty fine as they stormed the court once again following a thrilling 74-69 victory over No. 9 Kentucky, with Tyler Nickel’s crucial 3-pointer at 1:50 sealing the win. This marks the Commodores’ second consecutive upset of an AP Top 10 team on their home turf.
The jubilant crowd once again rushed the court, reminiscent of the previous week’s celebration after Vanderbilt (16-4, 4-3 Southeastern Conference) triumphed over then-No. 6 Tennessee. This excitement, however, has its consequences, as the first court-storming resulted in a $250,000 fine imposed by the league.
Leading the charge for Vanderbilt was Jason Edwards, who scored 18 points, while Devin McGlockton contributed 14 points. Tyler Nickel and Jaylen Carey added 11 and 10 points, respectively, showcasing a balanced offensive effort.
Kentucky (14-5, 3-3) faced a setback, suffering back-to-back losses for the first time this season.
Otega Oweh led the Wildcats with an impressive 21 points and 12 rebounds, supported by Ansley Almonor with 12 points and Jaxson Robinson adding 11.
This victory also marked Vanderbilt’s first win over Kentucky at Memorial Gym since 2016, adding to the significance of the achievement.
Takeaways
For Kentucky, turnovers proved detrimental, with the Wildcats committing 17 compared to just five by Vanderbilt. Point guard Lamont Butler was responsible for six of those turnovers before fouling out.
On the other hand, Vanderbilt’s first-year coach Mark Byington has reinvigorated the program, leading to a second consecutive sellout at the SEC’s oldest basketball arena, a feat not seen since the 2011-12 season.
Key moment
Kentucky, after trailing 41-27 at halftime, surged ahead by outscoring Vanderbilt 31-10, taking a 58-51 lead. However, the Commodores responded with a 15-5 run, reclaiming the lead at 66-63 thanks to a steal by McGlockton and a fast-break layup by Tyler Tanner with just over four minutes remaining.
Key stat
Vanderbilt closed out the game strong, scoring the final six points, while Kentucky remained silent on the scoreboard after Oweh’s layup with 2:56 left.
Up next
Kentucky will continue its road journey with a matchup against Tennessee on Tuesday night.
Vanderbilt will have a brief break before heading out for a two-game road trip, starting on February 1 at Oklahoma.
