Vanderbilt Defeats Auburn 84-76 as Tyler Tanner and Jalen Washington Power No. 19 Commodores in SEC

AUBURN, Ala. — No. 19 Vanderbilt strengthened its position in the SEC standings Tuesday night as Tyler Tanner scored 25 points and Jalen Washington added 22 in an 84-76 road victory over Auburn at Neville Arena.

The latest timeline in SEC basketball saw Vanderbilt improve to 20-4 overall and 7-4 in conference play, using efficient shooting and ball movement to withstand a late Auburn rally. The Commodores assisted on 14 of their 25 made field goals, a key statistical edge over the Tigers, who finished with just nine assists.

Tanner, Vanderbilt’s leading scorer this season, delivered a crucial three point shot late in the shot clock midway through the second half to halt Auburn momentum. Washington turned in one of his most efficient performances of the season, shooting 7 of 8 from the field and 2 of 2 from beyond the arc despite entering the game as a 25 percent three point shooter. Devin McGlockton contributed 12 points and seven rebounds, including 12 of Vanderbilt’s final 16 points in a decisive first half stretch.

Vanderbilt closed the opening half on a 16-5 run over the final 6 minutes and 3 seconds to take a 42-31 lead into the break. Auburn shot just 32.1 percent from the field in the first half but stayed within reach by hitting 5 of 10 from three point range and holding an 18-12 rebounding advantage.

In the second half, Auburn mounted a 12-2 run to cut the deficit to four points, signaling a potential shift in momentum. Tahaad Pettiford led the Tigers with 21 points, including a deep three pointer that energized the home crowd. Keyshawn Hall added 13 points and KeShawn Murphy scored 12. However, Auburn could not generate enough stops defensively to complete the comeback.

This result carries clear impact within the SEC race. Vanderbilt continues to trend upward as a potential top four conference contender, particularly impressive given roster limitations. The Commodores were without second leading scorer Duke Miles, who has missed four consecutive games with a knee injury, and Frankie Collins also did not play. Auburn welcomed freshman guard Simon Walker back after a five game absence, though he logged only four minutes and did not attempt a shot.

What this means moving forward is significant for both programs. Vanderbilt’s balanced scoring and improved half court execution provide stability entering a challenging stretch of conference play. Auburn, now 14-10 overall and 5-6 in SEC competition, faces mounting pressure as postseason positioning tightens.

The outlook centers on consistency. Vanderbilt will host Texas A and M on Saturday in another critical SEC matchup. Auburn travels to face No. 21 Arkansas on Saturday in what shapes up as a pivotal road test.

This breaking update underscores the evolving SEC landscape, where depth, efficiency, and late game execution are increasingly defining the conference race and NCAA tournament trajectory.