# SEC Men's Basketball: Vanderbilt Commodores Defeats McNeese Cowboys 78-68

**Published:** 2026-03-22 — **By:** Stacy Stanfield
**Category:** games — **Type:** game-recap
**Source:** https://secscouts.com/news/vanderbilt-defeats-mcneese-cowboys-sec-basketball-78-68

**Teams:** [Vanderbilt](https://secscouts.com/vanderbilt/)


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OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (03/18/2026) — Powered by a masterful 26-point performance from Tyler Tanner, the Vanderbilt Commodores overcame an early double-digit deficit to secure a 78-68 victory over the McNeese Cowboys on Wednesday night at the Paycom Center.

Vanderbilt shot a blistering 51% from the field and relied on timely second-half scoring to pull away, weathering a hot start from the Cowboys and asserting control in the game's final ten minutes.

### How It Happened

McNeese came out firing, quickly establishing an offensive rhythm. Tyshawn Archie scored the game's first basket with a floating jump shot at the 18:53 mark, and a barrage of three-pointers followed. A deep three from Larry Johnson and another from Archie just 37 seconds later put the Cowboys up 8-3. The early lead ballooned to 19-8 when Garwey Dual connected from behind the arc with 13:50 remaining in the first half, forcing Vanderbilt to regroup.

The Commodores began to methodically chip away at the deficit. Devin McGlockton answered with a dunk, and a three-pointer from Tyler Nickel at the 11:57 mark cut the McNeese lead to 21-15. Vanderbilt's long-range shooting proved to be the equalizer. Trailing 26-23, AK Okereke hit a 24-foot three-pointer, and Tyler Nickel gave the Commodores their first lead of the game, 30-28, with a 25-footer at the 4:09 mark.

After a back-and-forth finish to the half, which saw Javohn Garcia briefly reclaim the lead for McNeese, another Okereke three sent Vanderbilt into the locker room with a 38-35 advantage.

Vanderbilt carried that momentum into the second half, opening with a 7-0 run capped by a Tyler Nickel three-pointer to extend the lead to 45-35 just under two minutes in. McNeese refused to fold, battling back over the next ten minutes. A 28-foot three from DJ Richards Jr. with 7:25 on the clock pulled the Cowboys to within one possession at 60-57, setting the stage for a tense finish.

### Turning Point

With the game hanging in the balance, Tyler Tanner took over. Just 25 seconds after McNeese cut the lead to three, Tanner answered with a deep three of his own to push the margin back to six. With 3:51 remaining, Tanner struck again from long range, hitting a 25-footer that extended the Vanderbilt lead to 68-60. 

This sequence effectively broke McNeese's comeback bid. The Commodores executed down the stretch, punctuated by a Devin McGlockton dunk with 45 seconds left that made it 74-63 and sealed the outcome.

### Star of the Game

**Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt Commodores**

Tanner was the unquestioned engine for the Vanderbilt offense. He finished with a game-high 26 points, adding 7 rebounds and 5 assists in a complete performance. He was efficient, aggressive, and delivered the critical shots that halted McNeese's momentum in the second half. He was complemented by Devin McGlockton, who posted a double-double with 12 points and 8 rebounds, and Duke Miles, who added 13 points and 3 assists.

For McNeese, Garwey Dual led the way with a strong all-around game, scoring 16 points and dishing out 6 assists. Larry Johnson (15 points), Tyshawn Archie (13 points), and Javohn Garcia (10 points) also finished in double figures.

### What It Means

For Vanderbilt, the victory demonstrates the team's resilience and offensive firepower. Overcoming an 11-point first-half deficit with efficient shooting (51% FG, 38% 3PT) showcases their ability to make in-game adjustments and lean on their primary playmakers in clutch moments. The balanced scoring, with four players reaching double digits, is a positive sign for the Commodores' offense moving forward.

For McNeese, the loss marks the end of a hard-fought contest where a cold shooting night proved too much to overcome. The Cowboys shot just 36% from the field, a number that wasn't sustainable against a high-powered Vanderbilt attack. Despite forcing 13 turnovers, they couldn't convert enough on the offensive end to keep pace in the decisive final minutes.

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*Original article: [SEC Men's Basketball: Vanderbilt Commodores Defeats McNeese Cowboys 78-68](https://secscouts.com/news/vanderbilt-defeats-mcneese-cowboys-sec-basketball-78-68) — SEC Scouts*