Live Blog: No. 11 Vanderbilt Basketball Vs. No. 13 Alabama

Vanderbilt takes on its first ranked team of the season as the Commodores take on the Crimson Tide in what could be the game of the day.

Jan 3, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores guard Tyler Tanner (3) drives around South Carolina Gamecocks guard Kobe Knox (4) in the second half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images | Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – It is time for a game on the highway here in Nashville as two of the highest scoring teams in college basketball take the floor as No. 11 Vanderbilt hosts No. 13 Alabama in the Commodores’ SEC home opener.

The path that both teams took to get here today are quite different. Vanderbilt has been on cruise control for the vast majority of its 14-game season thus far, beating teams by a lot often. Vanderbilt’s 14-0 record includes wins over UCF and SMU, who are both ranked in the most recent AP Top 25. The Commodores have flexed their offensive firepower all season, averaging 93.4 points per game while also forcing opponents into mistakes.

Alabama, on the other hand, has played one of the most brutal schedules in the country this far and arrives in Nashville with a 11-3 record. Tonight is the sixth team ranked in the AP Top 12 that it has faced. The Crimson Tide went 2-3 in its previous five.

Like Vanderbilt, Alabama has also been one of the most threatening offenses in the sport, averaging 94.1 points per game. The quick strike ability of a Nate Oats offense has served his team well this season.

With both teams coming into the game with high-powered offenses, it is plausible to think that this game could come down to which team makes the fewest mistakes, or potentially which team can win the battle on the glass. After all, if there is one area where Vanderbilt could take advantage of Alabama, that is where it would be. Alabama has gotten outrebounded by teams such as Kennesaw State and South Florida, which could be a vulnerability Vanderbilt could expose tonight.

Regardless, toughness will certainly be at the forefront of the game. Which team is more willing to put their bodies on the line for loose balls and second chance opportunities could be the team that wins this game.

Follow the live blog here for live updates from tonight’s Vanderbilt-Alabama game.

Live Blog

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2nd Half

• FINAL: Vanderbilt gets a massive 96-90 victory over Alabama and moves to 15-0 on the season. What a game.

• Alabama hits a three to cut the Vanderbilt lead to four with 35.8 seconds remaining. Vanderbilt just needs to continue to make free throws and this game will eventually be over.

• Tyler Tanner has put on a cape in the second half and taken the game over. He has 20 points in the second half as Vanderbilt is up 91-85 with 1:07 left.

• Duke Miles has fouled out with 3:56 remaining. Commodores up 84-75.

• The first player of the game has fouled out it is Bristow for Alabama. There may be a few more guys who foul out given the amount of foul trouble. Vanderbilt has five guys with four fouls currently, so playing disciplined is key down the stretch. Vanderbilt leads 84-73 with five minutes to go.

• Nate Oats said something to the refs and was handed a technical foul. Not sure what it was, but this crowd continues to get into this game. Vanderbilt leads 71-63 with 8:39 remaining.

• Foul trouble continuing to pile up for Alabama. Williamson and Bristow all with four fouls and Allen, Holloway, Jemison and Bowen all with three fouls. Alabama has 12 team fouls this half already, Vanderbilt's got 8. Seems like there is a foul every trip down the floor.

• Mark Byington has not seemed to like some of the calls so far this second half, and the crowd has not liked the calls either. Alabama leads 48-47 at the under 16 timeout. Duke Miles is in some foul trouble now with three fouls.

1st Half

• What a fast ending to the first half. Alabama briefly took a 43-41 lead, but Tyler Tanner pushed the ball up the floor to Tyler Nickel, who hit a floater to tie it at 43 going into the locker room. An incredible game in Memorial tonight that is certainly living up to the hype.

• I think everyone knew Alabama was going to make a run at some point. Alabama goes on a run and makes it a 36-32 game with 3:35 left in the first half. Vanderbilt still leads.

• The foul trouble is piling up for Alabama already. Noah Williamson has three fouls and Aden Holloway's got two fouls. This is a big opportunity for Vanderbilt to grow its lead up 30-17.

• Vanderbilt has continued to play solid defense so far, leading 15-10, but Vanderbilt has gone maybe too fast offensively. Jalen Washington has rushed a possession or two in the paint, but Vanderbilt's defense has responded.

• It is time to take a moment and let everyone catch their breath as Vanderbilt leads 13-5 at the under 16 timeout. What a fast-paced game it is already. Vanderbilt with a couple made threes already, but it has been a couple early takeaways that have made a difference so far. Also, the crowd is very much into this game, which is exaclty what Vanderbilt wanted.

Pregame

• The Commodores take the floor.

• There is no question that this is by far the loudest and most active this crowd have been this season. It is a pretty obvious statement, though, considering this is the biggest game of Vanderbilt's season thus far.

• Tipoff is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. CT. Should be quite the game, especially with Red Panda performing a halftime show.

• The student section is filling up very quickly as we hit 45 minutes until tipoff. I expect a very hyped up and loud crowd tonight.

• Players from both sides are warming up in a pregame shoot around a little over an hour from tipoff. It should be a very exciting game here in Memorial Gymnasium tonight. It is the first time the arena has hosted a top 15 matchup since 1974.