Live Blog: No. 25 Vanderbilt Basketball vs. Georgia

Vanderbilt plays its final home game of the season in what feels like a must-win game.

Feb 21, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores forward Devin McGlockton (99) reacts after a made three point basket made by forward Tyler Nickel (5) against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half at Memorial Gymnasium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images | Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Senior Day in Nashville has arrived as Vanderbilt plays its final home game of the season against the Georgia Bulldogs. It may be the final game in Memorial Gymnasium, but the regular season still has three games left.

Vanderbilt’s original home final was scheduled for March 4 against Ole Miss. But due to a scheduling change between Vanderbilt and Ole Miss flipping home games, Vanderbilt’s Senior Day was moved to tonight while Vanderbilt finishes the regular season with three consecutive road games.

The feeling surrounding this game feels like a must-win for Vanderbilt for the Commodores resume. Vanderbilt has dropped two in a row with losses to Missouri and Tennessee and it has gravely impacted its standing in the SEC and its seeding for the NCAA Tournament.

With a win, Vanderbilt moves to 9-6 and it keeps pace in a tie with Missouri, Kentucky and possibly Texas for sixth in the SEC. A loss for the Commodores tonight would mean Vanderbilt would be at best in a three-way tie with Georgia and Texas for eighth in the SEC. Vanderbilt would be the No. 10 seed in the conference tournament and play on the first day of the SEC Tournament in that scenario.

For Georgia, the Bulldogs struggled mightily up until a week ago. Georgia has won two in a row against Kentucky and Texas and is now looking to get further ahead of the bubble teams before Selection Sunday.

The bottom line: there is still plenty at stake for both sides tonight.

Tipoff between Vanderbilt and Georgia is set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN. Follow the live blog here for live updates from today’s Vanderbilt-Georgia game.

Live Blog

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2nd Half

• That was a huge and-1 from AK Okereke right there. Made free throw makes it a 82-75 game wiht 2:48 left.

• Vanderbilt up 77-75 with 3:37 to go with Devin McGlockton going to the free throw line on the other side of the media timeout. A strong effort from Chandler Bing on the offensive boards leads to a trip to the line.

• Vanderbilt missed two consecutive free throws on 1-and-1 attempts, but Tyler Nickel just completed a three-point play to put Vanderbilt back up 73-69 with 5:33 to go.

• Georgia has come back to tie this game at 62. A 10-0 for Georgia. Just wow.

• Vanderbilt is 2/14 from three after starting the game 3/4. The Commodores are only up 52-47 after leading by 20 earlier.

• Georgia is on an extended 27-13 run and Vanderbilt's lead is still just at 50-44. Georgia has played tougher defensively and Vanderbilt has not shot the three as well as it did out of the gate.

1st Half

• HALF: Vanderbilt leads 42-35 at the half over Georgia. It is a half in which Vanderbilt got off to a hot start and played a complete game before Georgia got its offense going.

• Georgia has started to make a big push here. Bulldogs are on a 9-0 after Vanderbilt took a 20-point lead. Commodores now up just 37-26 at the under 4 timeout.

• AK Okereke's got 8 points on 3/3 shooting and 2/2 from three. A great start for Okereke and Vanderbilt as the Commodores lead 31-14.

• Vanderbilt has done a great job of offensive execution so far, getting into the paint and finding open looks on the perimeter. Vanderbilt is shooting 8/13. 20-14 Vanderbilt.

• Vanderbilt leads 10-5 early in a game of similar play styles. Vanderbilt is shooting the ball well out of the gates.

Pregame

• Here is the list of players being honored for Senior Day tonight.

• Players on both teams have come out warmups and began shooting around. Today’s game has plenty of postseason seeding ramifications for both teams in some form. 

• It is the final home game here in Memorial Gymnasium this season. And what a season it has been in Nashville this season. The season is certainly far from over with three more regular season games plus the SEC and NCAA Tournaments, though. With it being the final home game of the season, I have got to think that there will be a good crowd on hand today despite the fact that it is a weeknight.