Vanderbilt’s season ends in heartbreak after Hail Mary shot narrowly misses
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No. 5 Vanderbilt was inches away from perhaps the most historic field goal in program history until the ball did anything but drop.
Tyler Tanner’s cross-halfcourt shot to send the Commodores to the Sweet 16 gave No. 4 Nebraska a 74-72 victory and a chance to advance to the Sweet 16.
Nebraska led 39-32 at the half and led by as many as 10 at one point, but Vanderbilt took a five-point lead with 5:34 left in the game.
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Tyler Tanner of the Vanderbilt Commodores throws the ball against Sam Hoiberg of the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the final seconds of the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Paycom Center on March 21, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The Cornhuskers responded with a 6-0 run and retook the lead, but Vanderbilt took a 72-70 lead with less than a minute left after Tanner’s layup, giving it 27 points on the night.
However, these were Tanner and Vanderbilt’s final points of the game. Rienk Mast tied the score with 37 seconds left and Vanderbilt’s Chandler Bing missed a shot for a late lead.
Nebraska then raced down the court and Pryce Sandfort found Braden Frager, who made a contested layup to take the lead with 2.2 seconds left.
Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Sam Hoiberg (1) celebrates with fans after defeating the Vanderbilt Commodores in a second-round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center. (Alonzo Adams/Imagn Images)
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Vanderbilt called a timeout and the point went to the hot Tanner, who clearly knew the rhythm of his shot. He stood up from half court, but his shot was Gordon Hayward’s standout in the 2010 national championship game against Duke. from the back, then from the edge, then out.
Literally everyone, even the heavy Nebraska crowd in Oklahoma City, was in disbelief, but after the shock, the party turned red and relief quickly turned to celebration.
This is the first time Nebraska has made the Sweet 16 without getting there after eight appearances.
Braden Frager of the Nebraska Cornhuskers celebrates after his victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Paycom Center on March 21, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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Four Cornhuskers finished in double figures; Sandfort and Frager received 15 points each. Nebraska will face the winner of No. 1 Florida and No. 9 Iowa.
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