Vanderbilt (3-0) returned to Memorial Gymnasium to host Eastern Kentucky (1-1) for its third matchup of the 2025-2026 season. Mark Byington’s squad carried their momentum from their last two contests with a dominant 92-62 victory over the Colonels. Jalen Washington replaced AK Okereke in the starting lineup, joining Tyler Tanner, Duke Miles, Tyler Nickel and Devin McGlockton in the starting five.
The Commodores trailed for just 46 seconds and scored 23 fast break points to cap off a stellar night. Vanderbilt once again showcased five players in double figures, with Tanner, Miles, McGlockton, Okereke and Tyler Harris all demonstrating their offensive capabilities. Harris led the team in scoring with 17 points while adding 8 rebounds.
“If we’re playing the right way, it is going to be different guys, and we will show balance,” head coach Mark Byington said. “Everyone on my team can score, everybody can make plays. They all have value. But the main thing is our culture and making sure that we’re not getting one sided and selfish.”
First half
Washington wasted no time, winning the tip and throwing down a dunk within the first 15 seconds of the game. The 6’10 senior made his mark early, looking to prove Byington’s decision to start him was the right one. Eastern Kentucky freshman guard AJ Williams came out firing as he sank a 3-pointer to take the lead, 3-2. This marked the Colonel’s last taste of a lead in this contest, as Miles responded by nailing a 3-pointer of his own. A layup from Eastern Kentucky’s Montavious Myrick tied the score at 5-apiece before the Commodores caught fire. Vanderbilt scored 8 straight points, capped off by a 3-pointer from Miles on the assist from fellow guard Frankie Collins. Eastern Kentucky coach A.W. Williams elected to call the game’s first timeout at 14:08.
Colonels Junior Turner Buttry emerged from the break with a jumper to cut the lead to nine before Tanner converted a steal into a 3-point shot at the other end at 12:56. Following the contest’s second TV timeout at 11:42, Tyler Harris took control, draining two jumpers within a little over a minute to stretch the lead to 26-9 at 9:59. The Commodores continued to extend their lead as Tanner knocked down a deep 3-pointer on an assist from McGlockton.
The game’s third TV timeout came after a dunk from Eastern Kentucky graduate Jalen Cooper. Following baskets from both Austin Ball and Nickel, the score remained 31-13 for a stretch. The scoring drought concluded with an easy lay-in for Okereke off a beautiful assist from Miles. Myrick answered with a jumper, but the Colonels’ momentum was short-lived as Harris knocked down a shot from beyond the arc, pushing the lead back to 21. This triggered yet another timeout at 5:07 from coach Williams with his team trailing, 36-15.
The Colonels took possession out of the timeout but immediately turned the ball over as Collins recorded a steal and a powerful dunk at the other end. MJ Williams responded with a deep ball, cutting the lead to 18 at 4:01. Collins extended the margin back to 20 by laying it in off a tenacious drive to the rim. Another TV timeout ensued as Eastern Kentucky failed to consistently make a dent in Vanderbilt’s 20-point lead.
With a little over three minutes left in the half, Williams buried two 3-pointers in 30 seconds, tightening the deficit to 16 with Vanderbilt in control, 42-26. Williams’ four first-half 3-pointers prevented the game from getting completely out of hand. Harris finished the half strong by sinking a layup and scoring a free throw off an offensive rebound from McGlockton, sending the ‘Dores into halftime with a comfortable 45-27 edge.
Second half
Vanderbilt came out of the locker room playing aggressive defense, making life tough for Williams. The Vanderbilt defense forced Myrick into shooting a highly contested mid-range shot just to avoid a shot-clock violation. McGlockton capitalized with a layup, advancing the lead back to 20 points. Williams fired back with a basket as he was fouled, trimming the lead down to 17.
Five straight points from Tyler Tanner increased Vanderbilt’s lead to 23. The sophomore made a basket drawing a foul and converted the free throw. Tanner continued his dominance on defense as he came up with a steal at 17:12 and turned it into two more at the other end. An aggressive double team from Tanner and McGlockton caused coach Williams to call the first timeout of the second half at 16:34.
Nickel came out of the timeout by draining a three-pointer, stretching the lead to 58-32. That was followed by two straight baskets from Okereke who extended the lead to 30 with a forceful slam at 15:00. Tyler Jackson ended EKU’s scoring drought with a deep ball of his own, making it 65-35. Despite the Commodores securing two offensive rebounds around 14:00, they were unable to turn them into points. Vanderbilt’s full court press made things hard for Eastern Kentucky as another TV timeout ensued at 11:15 with Vanderbilt in control, 64-41.
Okereke came out of the timeout with a mid-range jumper and scored a 3-pointer a little under two minutes apart. At 11 points, Okereke was the fourth Commodore to reach double figures. Washington drilled a three-pointer of his own off an assist from Collins at 8:38 with Vanderbilt leading 74-46. A McGlockton layup prompted another timeout at 7:27, with Vanderbilt leading by 25.
The Commodores emerged from the timeout with aggression and pace. Harris blocked a shot and sprinted down the court to convert a contested layup. Harris continued his hot streak with a 3-pointer to bring the Commodores’ lead to 31 points, their largest of the game. Duke Miles had a two-way highlight himself, stealing and scoring a short floater with 4:40 left in the second half.
The highlight of the game came with 3:40 left in the second half, when Tyler Tanner put in his submission for “dunk of the year” with an absolute poster over Eastern Kentucky forward Austin Ball. Memorial Gymnasium erupted, signifying its loudest tenure throughout the night. The Commodores finished with a 30-point victory, 92-62, to advance to 3-0 on the season.
The Commodores return to action against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday, Nov. 15, with tipoff set for 2:00 p.m. CST.
