Vanderbilt basketball dropped its final preseason exhibition to Miami, 109-96, at the Watsco Center. The Commodores found themselves trailing early in the contest and, despite narrowing the deficit on several occasions, never managed to seize the lead. The loss highlighted significant defensive vulnerabilities, as Miami executed its game plan with ease, capitalizing on open looks and high-percentage shots throughout the forty minutes.
Commodores struggle defensively as Miami dominates at Watsco Center
Offensively, Vanderbilt showed flashes of promise but lacked consistency from key contributors. Tyler Tanner had a quiet performance, scoring just 10 points on inefficient 3-for-10 shooting. However, the team’s overall scoring output was respectable, with Ace Glass leading the charge with 19 points and Chandler Bing adding 18. Vanderbilt’s free-throw percentage improved compared to their previous exhibition against UAB, suggesting a step forward in ball security and foul drawing, even as the perimeter defense remained porous.
The box score underscores the disparity in execution, with Miami shooting an impressive 58% from the field (40-for-69) and 48% from three-point range (12-for-25), while Vanderbilt managed 44% from the floor (32-for-72) and 36% from deep (8-for-22). These metrics indicate that while the Commodores can generate volume, they must tighten up their defensive rotations before the regular season begins. Vanderbilt will open the 2026-27 campaign against Bellarmine on Nov. 2 at 6 p.m. CT, with coverage available on SEC Network+.
Source: Yahoo Sports
