Live Blog: No. 5 Seed Vanderbilt Basketball vs. No. 4 Seed Nebraska, NCAA Tournament Round of 32

OKLAHOMA CITY – Can Vanderbilt men’s basketball make the magic continue?

That is the question heading into the Commodores’ Round of 32 game against a No. 4 Nebraska team that is having a season to remember of its own. The Cornhuskers are coming off their first ever NCAA Tournament win in program history, but do not let Nebraska’s program history be deceptive of the team it has this year.

Both Vanderbilt and Nebraska have been legit throughout the entirety of the season. And now, the two meet for a spot in the Sweet 16. Vanderbilt has not made the Sweet 16 since 2012 while Nebraska has never made it that far.

Vanderbilt is coming off a Round of 64 victory over McNeese in which the Commodores bounced back from a slow start to win 78-68. However, Vanderbilt head coach Mark Byington was not pleased with his team’s performance. He knows how good Nebraska is and knows Vanderbilt cannot afford another slow start in the biggest game of its season.

Another factor Vanderbilt will also be dealing with is the crowd, despite the game being a neutral site. With Oklahoma City being just six hours south of Lincoln, Nebraska, Cornhusker fans have shown up to the Paycom Center in droves. So much so that the arena felt like the first round was played at Pinnacle Bank Arena and is bound to feel like it today.

The key to the game for Vanderbilt will be to start fast on both ends of the floor. In the previous round, Vanderbilt gave up too many open shots early on that a team like Nebraska would make the Commodores pay for.

Tipoff between Vanderbilt and Nebraska is set for approximately 7:45 p.m. CT on TNT.

Follow the live blog here for live updates from today’s Vanderbilt-Nebraska game.

Live Blog

Be sure to refresh your browser for live updates from Vanderbilt vs. Nebraska. The most recent updates will appear at the top.

Second Half

AK Okereke with an unreal clutch shot to put Vanderbilt back up 70-68 with 1:42 to go. What a game this has been.

You can feel the intensity, the anxiousness and the passion in the arena right now. Just an unreal environment and situation. Vanderbilt leads 67-64. Vanderbilt has got to find a way to get a couple stops and scores. 3:47 to go.

Tyler Tanner is putting on a masterclass right now. Just simply sensational. Whenever Nebraska throws a punch, he responds. This dude can ball.

AK Okereke drops in a three and Vanderbilt leads 58-55 as Nebraska calls timeout. What a game this is. 8:22 to go.

Chandler Bing just came up with an unreal defensive block before Okereke blocked a Nebraska three to force a shot clock violation. It just feels like Vanderbilt is one or two big shots away from pulling a lot of momentum in its direction.

Duke Miles has hit two straight shots after missing his first six. Vanderbilt's got this within four points at the first media timeout of the half. By the way, Nebraska fans have complained at every whistle.

Free throw shooting has been real bad today. Six missed free throws now on 10/16. That's a killer in this type of game. 45-38 Nebraska.

First Half

HALF: Vanderbilt trails Nebraska 39-32 at halftime. It's Tyler Tanner and everyone else for Vanderbilt right now. Duke Miles has yet to hit a shot today. Nebraska is shooting 60 percent, Vanderbilt is shooting 37 percent. Will the law of averages play out?

Nebraska goes up 10 before AK Okereke hit a three. 31-24 Nebraska at the under 4 timeout. Commodores seem to just barely hanging on right now, trying to get this game still in striking distance at half.

anderbilt has started to look more settled in as Tanner hits the team's first three. He has 11 points already as the Commodores trail 21-17. But Vanderbilt needs to do a better job defensively on Mast, he is 3/3 from three.

Vanderbilt is 0/8 from three, Nebraska is 3/5. That'll be a difference maker alright. Commodores down 16-10 at the under 12 timeout. Vanderbilt will eventually start to see shots fall eventually I'd think, it's more about just making sure it isn't down big before they fall.

Vanderbilt got blitzed immediately with a 8-0 Nebraska run to start the game. It is now 11-4 at the first media timeout. Commodores have settled on some of these shots while also missing a couple decent looks.

I am so serious when I say this: this game we be no different if it were held in Lincoln, Nebraska. The atmosphere is simply unreal. Tip of the hat to the Nebraska fanbase.

Pregame

“Husker power” chants are coming out in OKC during the Houston-A&M game. There are plenty of Houston fans in the arena, but I imagine once this first game goes final, Nebraska fans will continue to pour in and increase. Vanderbilt will likely be playing in the lions’s den tonight

Though it is essentially a true road game for Vanderbilt, this atmosphere is electric. I must say, the Nebraska fanbase has got to be one of, if not, the best fanbase in all of America in any sport. These fans are passionate and you can just feel how excited they are to be here to watch their team.

Vanderbilt On SI is back in the house tonight for the nightcap in Oklahoma City. Vanderbilt and Nebraska is the second to last game on today’s March Madness schedule. It does indeed feel like a home game today, with a sea of red coating the seats in the arena.

Follow us on Twitter/X, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Threads and Blue Sky for the latest news.