Live Blog: No. 4 Seed Vanderbilt Basketball vs. No. 3 Seed Arkansas, SEC Championship

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Welcome to Selection Sunday, where Vanderbilt basketball goes for its first SEC Tournament Championship since 2012.

Two seasons ago, this day was a fever dream and perhaps seemed like an impossibility to the fanbase. A 9-23 record and a first round exit in the SEC Tournament in 2024 did give fans much promise on the trajectory of the program going forward.

Then came along head coach Mark Byington from James Madison. Byington’s impact was felt quickly as he took Vanderbilt back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2016-2017 season a year ago. This year, Vanderbilt is going back again. But Byington’s impact in year two has been even greater, coaching the Commodores to a 26-7. The 26 wins are tied for the most wins in a season in program history.

Today, Vanderbilt has an opportunity to set a new record for wins in a season at the SEC Tournament Championship Game as Vanderbilt takes on No. 3 seed Arkansas.

This is the second time the Commodores and Razorbacks have met this season. The first meeting between these two was arguably Vanderbilt’s worst performance of the season, losing to Arkansas 93-68 on Jan. 20.

It was a day in which Byington called his team’s performance "embarrassing." Today, the Commodores have an opportunity to avenge that loss and put one last big win on the resume before the reveal of the NCAA Tournament bracket.

With Vanderbilt coming off wins against Tennessee and Florida, it seems to have secured a No. 4 seed in the tournament. The question is if Vanderbilt will be protected and sent to a relatively close location. A win today could do that.

Today’s game is all about the guards. Vanderbilt’s Tyler Tanner and Duke Miles against Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas. Acuff Jr. and Thomas got the better of Vanderbilt last time around. It is time to see if Tanner and Miles have a response.

Tipoff between Vanderbilt and Arkansas is set for approximately 12 p.m. CT on ESPN

Follow the live blog here for live updates from today’s Vanderbilt-Arkansas game.

Live Blog

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Second Half

FINAL: Arkansas wins the SEC Title 86-75.

Arkansas is 63 percent from 3 (15/24). You simply just cannot beat that without getting close to matching it. Arkansas is going to win this game. It is 82-72 with 1:07 to go.

Tyler Tanner cannot buy a bucket today. He misses a point blank layup and Acuff scores on the other end. Vanderbilt trails 74-72 with 3:40 to go.

Vanderbilt has not hit a shot in 7:21, but is only down 64-61 with 7:39 to go. The fact the Commodores are well in this game still is crazy to think about.

It is an 11-0 run for Arkansas and Vanderbilt now trails 60-55 at the under 12 minute timeout. Arkansas has gotten into transition and gotten good looks while Vanderbilt is one for its last nine. The Commodores have got to hit the open looks.

Vanderbilt has missed four consecutive open shots, three of them were threes. It just is not McGlockton's or Washington's day from beyond the arc. Vanderbilt leads 55-54.

Vanderbilt gets its largest lead of the game at 55-49 and forces an Arkansas timeout. Commodore fans are well represented today and are making themselves known. Vanderbilt has outscored Arkansas by 8 this half.

Vanderbilt gets its largest lead of the game at 55-49 and forces an Arkansas timeout. Commodore fans are well represented today and are making themselves known. Vanderbilt has outscored Arkansas by 8 this half. pic.twitter.com/v3zoH5fJMr
— Graham Baakko (@GrahamBaakko) March 15, 2026

Ouch Devin McGlockton hit Darius Acuff in the face as he was going to block his shot and was given a flagrant 1 foul.

First Half

HALF: This game is pure cinema right now. The guards of Vanderbilt and Arkansas are going shot for shot right now. Could not have hoped for a better first half of basketball. Arkansas leads Vanderbilt 41-39. This is incredible.

It feels like everry time Vanderbilt ties the game or draws very close Arkansas hits a three. Duke Miles tied it at 28 with a three and Meleek Thomas drilled one on the other end just seconds later. Vanderbilt trails 31-28 at the final media timeout of the half.

Tyler Tanner and Tyler Nickel hit back-to-back threes and it is back to a 1-point game just like that. "VU" chants are being heard throughout the arena. A great job from Vanderbilt to get into transition there.

Vanderbilt has its biggest deficit of the game at 24-17. The shooting percentage disparity is still the biggest difference in this game, more specifically the perimeter shooting. Vanderbilt has to be better about its switches defensively and not leaving a guy open on the outside.

Arkansas is shooting 55 percent for the game right now while Vanderbilt is 4/18 from the floor. That is pretty much the different right now. 15-11 Arkansas leads.

Arkansas threw the first punch with a 5-0 start, but Vanderbilt responded with a 9-2 run. Commodores lead 9-7 at the first media timeout. I think in this type of game it is all about getting settled into the game and weathering the initial storm.

Pregame

Happy Selection Sunday and Championship Sunday! Before the brackets come out tonight, Vanderbilt’s first order of business is taking on Arkansas in the SEC Championship. What a day this will be!

Vanderbilt on SI is in the house today for the SEC Championship. What a fantastic week and tournament it has been. I am not sure how many people thought this would be the championship game, but here we are. I expect a great environment as always for these conference tournament games.

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