NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
No. 5 Vanderbilt was inches away from perhaps the most historic shot in program history until the ball did everything but fall.
Tyler Tanner’s heave past half court to send the Commodores to the Sweet 16 unfolded to give No. 4 Nebraska a 74-72 victory and advance to the Sweet 16.
Nebraska entered the half with a 39-32 lead and led by as many as 10 at one point, but Vanderbilt rallied to lead by five with 5:34 to play.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Tyler Tanner of the Vanderbilt Commodores shoots the ball against Sam Hoiberg of the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the final seconds of the second round of the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Paycom Center on March 21, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The Cornhuskers then responded with a 6-0 run to regain the lead, but Vanderbilt led 72-70 with less than a minute remaining after a Tanner layup, giving it 27 points on the night.
However, these were the last points of the game for Tanner and Vanderbilt. Rienk Mast tied the match with a takedown with 37 seconds left, and Vanderbilt’s Chandler Bing missed a shot to take a late lead.
Nebraska then ran down the court and Pryce Sandfort found Braden Frager, who made a contested layup to take the lead with 2.2 seconds remaining.
Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Sam Hoiberg (1) celebrates with fans after defeating the Vanderbilt Commodores in a second round of the 2026 men’s NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center. (Alonzo Adams/Imagn Images)
VILLANOVA COACH TURNS HEADS AFTER ‘JOKE’ THAT HE WILL ‘LAY MY STAFF’ DURING MARCH MADNESS LOSS
Vanderbilt called a timeout, and the incoming shot went to the hot Tanner, who clearly had the groove on his shot. He went from half court, but the shot was a striking image of Gordon Hayward’s shot in the 2010 national title game against Duke — off the backboard, then off the rim, then out.
Nearly everyone, even the large Nebraska crowd in Oklahoma City, was in disbelief, but the party was red hot after shock and relief quickly turned to celebration.
This is Nebraska’s first time in the Sweet 16 after eight previous appearances without making it.
Braden Frager of the Nebraska Cornhuskers celebrates after victory against the Vanderbilt Commodores in the second round of the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Paycom Center on March 21, 2026, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Four Cornhuskers finished in double figures, with Sandfort and Frager each scoring 15. Nebraska will face the winner of No. 1 Florida and No. 9 Iowa.
