Live Blog: No. 19 Vanderbilt Basketball vs. Texas A&M

Vanderbilt looks to put itself in an improved position in the SEC standings with a win Saturday.

Feb 10, 2026; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Mark Byington signals a play during the first half against the Auburn Tigers at Neville Arena. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-Imagn Images | John Reed-Imagn Images

It is a crowded bunch of teams competing for various spots for the upcoming SEC Tournament. Vanderbilt has a chance to bring some clarity to that in a positive way today.

The SEC standings are in a log jam from almost at the very top down into the bottom half of the conference. Florida is sitting pretty at the top with a 9-2 conference record with Arkansas and Kentucky just a game behind at 8-3. But then things get very murky.

Vanderbilt is included in a five-way tie for the fourth and final double-bye spot in next month’s SEC Tournament. While there is still plenty of basketball to play, the impact each game has on how the conference bracket shapes out continues to grow. The Commodores are in a tie with Alabama, Texas A&M, Tennessee and Missouri with a 7-4 record.

Thankfully for Vanderbilt, it has a chance to create some separation from one of these teams today. Vanderbilt hosts a Texas A&M team that has struggled as of late. The Aggies were at the top of the SEC not long ago, but a three-game losing streak has put them in serious danger of falling further down the standings.

That is why today’s game between Vanderbilt and Texas A&M is crucial. The Commodores have the opportunity to break the five-way tie and try to create separation between themselves and the teams below them. But with a team like Texas A&M that has been a little bit of free fall, expect the Aggies to play a little more desperate and aggressive than usual.

One thing to watch for today is how Vanderbilt handles Texas A&M’s ball pressure. The Aggies run a system called “Bucky Ball” after their coach Bucky McMillan. They full court press opponents for almost the entirety of every game.

The key for Vanderbilt here? Take care of the ball and do not spend too much time getting the ball inbounds. If Vanderbilt is able to break the press, it sets itself up well for victory. If not, it could be a not so good day.

Nonetheless, stakes are high as March gets closer by the day. Tipoff between Vanderbilt and Texas A&M is set for 12 p.m. CT on SEC Network.

Follow the live blog here for live updates from today’s Vanderbilt-Texas A&M game.

Live Blog

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2nd Half

• AK Okereke puts in a dagger three to put Vanderbilt up 78-63 with 1:31 to go. The Commodores are going to get a quality win at home and continue to strive for a spot at the top of the SEC barring a collapse.

• Zach Clemence fouled out for Texas A&M a couple minutes ago. Now, Rylan Griffen fouls out and sends AK Okereke to the line.

• Texas A&M has ramped up the defensive pressure, forcing a 10-second violation and almost a second one as well. However, Tyler Nickel just got the ball across halfcourt and drove it to the basket for an and-1. Vanderbilt leads 69-59 with 4:23 to go.

• Texas A&M big men Federiko Federiko and Zach Clemence both have four fouls. Vanderbilt has done a good job rebounding the ball today, and having two Aggies in serious foul trouble gives the Commodores an even better chance on the glass.

• Federiko Federiko and Tyler Tanner exchanged some words at halfcourt going back down to the opposite end of the floor after a made Vanderbilt bucket. Two teams were separated and play is being reviewed. After the review, both players were assessed technical fouls, which brings Tanner to four fouls. Vanderbilt leads 56-45 with 9:41 to go.

• Another thing that has impressed me today is how Vanderbilt has played despite Tyler Tanner only scoring two points so far. It goes to show how impactful Vanderbilt's big guys are and also shows that Vanderbilt can win games in various different ways without Duke Miles and Frankie Collins as well, mind you.

• Vanderbilt has continued to be active on the glass and shoot well this half. Commodores are shooting 67% in the second half as they open up a 54-41 lead with 11:30 to go.

• Tyler Nickel gets to 20 points off his fifth three-pointer of the game. 50-39 Vanderbilt. The quality looks the Commodores have gotten throughout this game are starting to fall more consistently.

• Vanderbilt off to a good start this half with a couple of made threes from Tyler Nickel and Chandler Bing. Vanderbilt has its largest lead of the game up 47-39. Vanderbilt has been continuing to drive the basket and find guys open around the arc.

1st Half

• HALF: Vanderbilt goes into halftime up 36-32. It's been a first half where Vanderbilt has gotten itself opportunities to score plenty of times, but it feels like the Commodores may have left some points on the board between missed free throws and missed open shots. Nonetheless, Vanderbilt has rebounded well and played well against the Texas A&M press for the most part despite shooting 35 percent.

• Tyler Nickel with five points in a matter of seconds as he breaks the press and runs down the court for a dunk before hitting an open three the next possession. Vanderbilt goes on a 7-0 and takes a 25-19 lead. It is amazing what happens a team starts to hit open shots.

• Something I don't want to go unnoticed is how well Vanderbilt is holding its own on the rebounds today. Commodores are winning the battle on the glass right now 13-10, including six offensive rebounds that have lead to seven second chance points for Vanderbilt. 19-18 Texas A&M leads.

• Vanderbilt has been able to do a fine job breaking the press and finding open looks on the three-point line and in the paint, but it has not been able to convert on a lot of these open shots. Vanderbilt shooting 5/16 and 1/7 from three. Texas A&M leads 17-13.

• Vanderbilt has gotten into the paint often these first few minutes with six points in the paint. Vanderbilt leads Texas A&M 11-8 at the first media timeout.

• It took a couple of minutes, but Tyler Nickel puts Vanderbilt on the board with a three. Vanderbilt has done well against the Texas A&M press thus far, but it does seem that they are not pressing maybe as much as in games past.

Pregame

• What a day for Vanderbilt sports by the way. The Commodores have a baseball game in addition to today's crucial basketball game.

• Players of both teams are out on the court going through early warmups and early shootaround. With a game with important stakes like this, I would expect another great crowd today.

• Vanderbilt Commodores On SI is back in the house known at Memorial Gymnasium as Vanderbilt gets ready to take on Texas A&M. Today’s game is the earliest game Vanderbilt has played so far in conference play. The Commodores are looking to get what could be a really solid home win amongst the tight standings.