Vanderbilt basketball defeated UAB, 97-65, in an exhibition matchup on Oct. 19 at Memorial Gymnasium.
Tyler Tanner shined as usual, though he didn't play a full slate of minutes. He displayed his ability to do a little bit of everything on the court, including scoring, passing, rebounding and generating steals. Freshman guard Anthony Brown Jr. also played well, putting both passing and 3-point shooting ability on display.
Vanderbilt overwhelmed UAB in the paint, frequently driving in and getting open dunks or drawing fouls. However, when the Commodores did draw fouls, they struggled to make their free throws. The margin could've been even bigger had Vanderbilt not left those points on the table.
The shooting was a mixed bag. Brown, Tanner and Ace
Glass showed some shooting ability, but UAB left Vanderbilt's bigs open on the perimeter and Bangot Dak and Berke Buyuktuncel bricked the shots they did attempt.
T.O. Barrett and Gabe Nesmith did not play in the exhibition.
Vanderbilt 79, UAB 54
08:40 PM ET, October 19 2026, Aria GersonChandler Bing has once again been disruptive on the defensive end, creating some opportunities for himself. Ethan Mgbako made a 3-pointer and Bangot Dak had a heads-up play to get a dunk on a missed free throw.
Vanderbilt 70, UAB 48 at second media timeout
08:26 PM ET, October 19 2026, Aria GersonVanderbilt opened up a 70-48 lead. Bangot Dak made two dunks, including an electric finish on a lob from Anthony Brown Jr. on the fastbreak, and Tyler Tanner also made a 3-pointer and layup while generating pressure on the defensive end.
Vanderbilt 55, UAB 38 at first second-half media timeout
08:16 PM ET, October 19 2026, Aria GersonAce Glass and Tyler Tanner made threes, while Berke Buyuktuncel made 1-for-2 at the line to provide Vanderbilt's scoring in the first chunk of the second half.
Vanderbilt vs UAB halftime score: Commodores lead, 48-30
07:52 PM ET, October 19 2026, Aria GersonVanderbilt opened up a 48-30 lead at halftime.
Analysis: The Commodores have been too much for UAB to handle in the paint. The Blazers have frequently fouled Vanderbilt, unable to defend its size. But the Commodores haven't taken full advantage, with a lot of missed free throws, and many of the shots haven't fallen. Most of Vanderbilt's made shots have been uncontested off turnovers. In particular, UAB has left Bangot Dak wide open several times and he has missed all of his 3-pointers. Chandler Bing is so disruptive defensively, but in the final segment of the first half, he made just 1-for-2 on free throws and missed a layup. There are questions about whether he can take on a bigger scoring load as a sophomore.
Vanderbilt 40, UAB 19 at final media timeout of first half
07:40 PM ET, October 19 2026, Aria GersonVanderbilt has opened up a big lead on UAB at the final media timeout of the first half thanks to getting very active in the paint. Anthony Brown Jr. also hit two 3-pointers while Bangot Dak made a dunk and Jayden Leverett made two.
Vanderbilt 27, UAB 15 at third media timeout
07:31 PM ET, October 19 2026, Aria GersonVanderbilt opened up a 12-point lead at the third media timeout thanks to lockdown defense that allowed UAB to score just three points, on one 3-pointer, since the under-12 timeout.
Bangot Dak made a layup and Tyler Tanner made a 3-pointer and two free throws.
Vanderbilt 20, UAB 12: Blazers call timeout after Commodores scoring run
07:26 PM ET, October 19 2026, Aria GersonVanderbilt's defense has gotten it done. The Commodores are on a 5-0 scoring run, but it's an ugly one as Ace Glass, Tyler Tanner and Berke Buyuktuncel all made 1-for-2 at the line and Sebastian Williams-Adams made a dunk. The defense has locked down, however, keeping the Blazers off the board.
Vanderbilt 15, UAB 12: Second media timeout
07:19 PM ET, October 19 2026, Aria GersonAt the second media timeout, with 11:38 to go in the first half, Vanderbilt held a 15-12 lead. Tyler Tanner, Bangot Dak, Jaxon Sheffield and Anthony Brown Jr. all made layups.
Vanderbilt has generated a lot of steals and has had success getting to the basket, but the Commodores are bricking a lot of 3-pointers. There have already been multiple airballs.
Vanderbilt 7, UAB 4 at first media timeout
07:08 PM ET, October 19 2026, Aria GersonVanderbilt went up, 7-4, at the first media timeout. The Commodores' baskets came on a 3-pointer from Ace Glass, a layup off a steal from Tyler Tanner and a long two from Bangot Dak.
Vanderbilt starting lineup vs UAB
07:00 PM ET, October 19 2026, Aria GersonG Tyler Tanner
G Ace Glass
G/F Chandler Bing
F Sebastian Williams-Adams
F Berke Buyuktuncel
Vanderbilt basketball schedule 2026-27
06:00 PM ET, October 19 2026, Aria GersonAll times Central
Oct. 19: UAB (exhibition)
Oct. 23: at Miami (exhibition)
Nov. 2: Bellarmine, 6 p.m., SEC Network+
Nov. 5: Wake Forest, 5 p.m., ESPN2
Nov. 10: Memphis, 6:15 p.m., SEC Network+
Nov. 13: Prairie View A&M, 6 p.m., SEC Network+
Nov. 17: Eastern Illinois, 7 p.m., SEC Network+
Nov. 20: UCF, 7 p.m., SEC Network+
Nov. 24: at Ohio State, 6 p.m., NBCSN/Peacock
Nov. 27: Southern, 1 p.m., SEC Network+
Dec. 2: at Notre Dame (SEC/ACC Challenge), 6:15 p.m., ACC Network
Dec. 6: at Cal, 7 p.m., ACC Network
Dec. 12: West Georgia, 1 p.m., SEC Network
Dec. 18: Southern Indiana, 4 p.m., SEC Network+
Dec. 21: Milwaukee, 4 p.m., SEC Network+
Dec. 29: Alcorn State, 7 p.m., SEC Network
Jan. 2: at Tennessee, 1 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2
Jan 6: Mississippi State, 6 p.m., SEC Network
Jan. 9: at Florida, 10 a.m. ESPN
Jan. 12: South Carolina, 8 p.m., SEC Network
Jan. 16: at Kentucky, 3 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2
Jan. 19: Auburn, 6 p.m., SEC Network
Jan. 23: Missouri, 7 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2 or ESPNU
Jan. 27: at Ole Miss, ESPN2 or ESPNU
Jan. 30: Texas A&M, ESPN2 or ESPNU
Feb. 2: at LSU, 8 p.m., ESPNU
Feb. 6: Arkansas, 7 or 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Feb. 9: at Georgia, 6 p.m., SEC Network
Feb. 13: Texas, 1 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2
Feb. 20: at Texas A&M, 3 or 3:30 p.m., ESPN2
Feb. 23: Kentucky, 8 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2
Feb. 27: at Alabama, 7:30 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2
March 3: at Oklahoma, 8 p.m., ESPN2 or ESPNU
March 6: Tennessee, 1 p.m., ESPN2 or ESPNU
Vanderbilt vs UAB exhibition start time
05:00 PM ET, October 19 2026, Aria Gerson- Start time: 6 p.m. CT
- Location: Memorial Gymnasium
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt basketball wins big over UAB in exhibition matchup
