Vanderbilt Upsets No. 4 Florida 91-74 in SEC Tournament as Tyler Tanner Leads Commodores to Semifinal Breakthrough

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — No. 22 Vanderbilt delivered one of the most significant results of the Southeastern Conference tournament with a 91-74 victory over fourth ranked Florida on Saturday, ending the defending national champion’s bid for a second consecutive SEC tournament title and reshaping the latest NCAA tournament seeding outlook.

Tyler Tanner led Vanderbilt with 20 points as the fourth seeded Commodores extended their winning streak to four games and advanced to the SEC tournament championship round. The victory improved Vanderbilt’s record to 26-7 and placed the program within reach of its first conference tournament title since 2012.

The result also carries immediate impact for Florida’s postseason positioning. The Gators entered the tournament projected as a potential No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament field, but the loss introduces uncertainty into the selection committee’s final evaluation.

Vanderbilt produced one of its most balanced offensive performances of the season. Five players finished in double figures as the Commodores controlled the pace from the middle of the first half onward.

Jalen Washington contributed 17 points while Duke Miles scored 15 and delivered several momentum changing plays. Devin McGlockton added 12 points and AK Okereke finished with 11. Six Vanderbilt players connected on at least one three point shot and every player who appeared in the game scored.

Florida (26-7) saw its 12 game winning streak come to an end despite another strong rebounding performance. The Gators, widely regarded as one of the nation’s top rebounding teams, controlled the boards 38-23 but struggled with shooting efficiency throughout the game.

Thomas Haugh led Florida with 19 points while Boogie Fland added 15. Alex Condon scored 13 and Rueben Chinyelu finished with 12 points. Despite the balanced scoring, the Gators were unable to overcome early shooting difficulties that defined the latest timeline of the matchup.

Florida opened the game with a brief lead but never built an advantage larger than two points. Vanderbilt seized control midway through the first half when Miles made a three point shot that gave the Commodores the lead for good.

That basket began an 11-0 Vanderbilt scoring run that shifted momentum. Miles capped the sequence with a layup that extended the margin and energized the home crowd. Vanderbilt carried that momentum into halftime with a 47-34 lead.

Florida attempted to respond during the second half but was unable to significantly reduce the deficit. The Gators never moved closer than 13 points after the break as Vanderbilt continued to score efficiently from multiple positions.

The Commodores delivered the decisive stretch midway through the second half. Vanderbilt scored seven consecutive points to extend the lead to 76-51 with 8 minutes 11 seconds remaining. The run concluded with two free throws by Miles following a technical foul assessed to Florida head coach Todd Golden.

The outcome marks a major milestone for Vanderbilt’s program under head coach Mark Byington, who has guided the Commodores through one of their most successful seasons in more than a decade. Vanderbilt last won the SEC tournament in 2012 and previously captured the event in 1951.

For Florida, the loss ends a dominant late season stretch in which the Gators had won 12 consecutive games while defeating opponents by an average margin of more than 21 points. The team now shifts focus to the NCAA tournament selection process to determine whether its regular season SEC championship will still be sufficient to secure a No. 1 seed.

Vanderbilt’s next step is the SEC tournament championship game on Sunday where the Commodores will face either Mississippi or No. 17 Arkansas. A victory would give Vanderbilt its third SEC tournament title in program history and further strengthen its national tournament resume.

The latest outlook suggests Vanderbilt has positioned itself as one of the most dangerous teams entering March postseason play, while Florida will now wait for the selection committee’s decision as the NCAA tournament bracket approaches announcement.