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No. 11 Vanderbilt remains undefeated with 96-90 win over No. 13 Alabama

No. 11 Vanderbilt remains undefeated with 96-90 win over No. 13 Alabama | iNFOnews.ca
Alabama guard Jalil Bethea, left, and Vanderbilt forward Devin McGlockton, right, dive for a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tyler Tanner scored 23 of his career-high 29 points in the second half and No. 11 Vanderbilt remained undefeated by beating 13th-ranked Alabama 96-90 on Wednesday night.

The Commodores (15-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) extended their best start since winning 16 straight games to open the 2007-08 season. This is only the second time in the program’s 124-year history that Vanderbilt has won its first 15.

Vanderbilt hadn’t played a ranked opponent until this game, also the first here between two top-15 teams since Jan. 5, 1974. Then-No. 10 Vanderbilt beat the 14th-ranked Crimson Tide in that game on its way to splitting the SEC championship with Alabama.

Vanderbilt also beat Alabama for the first time at Memorial Gym since 2018, ending a five-game skid against the Tide.

Duke Miles had 19 points and five steals before fouling out, and four other Commodores finished with at least four fouls. Tyler Nickel scored 12 points while Devin McGlockton and AK Okereke, who also fouled out, each had 10.

Tanner, a sophomore guard, added seven assists and four steals. He was 12 of 15 at the free-throw line — all in the second half.

Alabama (11-4, 1-1) had its four-game winning streak snapped in a game featuring 63 combined fouls, with two technicals on the Crimson Tide.

Amari Allen led Alabama with a season-high 25 points. Leading scorer Labaron Philon Jr. added 18 but checked out with 16:06 to go and never returned. Aden Holloway had 22 points and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. scored 13.

Fouls called left and right turned the first 10 minutes of the second half into ugly ball, and Alabama never led by more than four. Allen hit two free throws that pulled the Tide to 59-58 with 12:14 left.

Vanderbilt went on a 16-4 spurt that included a technical foul on Alabama coach Nate Oats with 8:39 to go. Tanner hit both free throws off the technical, then Mike James knocked down a 3-pointer for a 74-63 lead. The Tide made it interesting but got no closer than 94-90.

Up next

Alabama hosts Texas on Saturday.

Vanderbilt hosts LSU on Saturday.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

No. 11 Vanderbilt remains undefeated with 96-90 win over No. 13 Alabama | iNFOnews.ca
Vanderbilt guard Duke Miles (2) dribbles the ball past Alabama guard Labaron Philon (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
No. 11 Vanderbilt remains undefeated with 96-90 win over No. 13 Alabama | iNFOnews.ca
Vanderbilt forward Ak Okereke (10) blocks a shot by Alabama guard Labaron Philon (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
No. 11 Vanderbilt remains undefeated with 96-90 win over No. 13 Alabama | iNFOnews.ca
Vanderbilt head coach Mark Byington yells to his players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Alabama, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
No. 11 Vanderbilt remains undefeated with 96-90 win over No. 13 Alabama | iNFOnews.ca
Alabama head coach Nate Oats yells to an official during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Vanderbilt, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

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The Associated Press

Teresa M. Walker

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

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