Tyler Tanner scored 20 points and totaled six assists to lead No. 24 Vanderbilt to a comfortable 93-47 victory over Bellarmine in the season opener for both teams on Monday night in Nashville, Tenn.
Tanner, a preseason All-Southeastern Conference first-team selection, opened his junior season much like he finished his sophomore year. Tanner finished fourth in the SEC in scoring last season, and shot 7 of 10 in his first action since choosing to return to Vanderbilt and forego the NBA draft.
The Commodores (1-0) had four players score in double figures and closed the first half on a 30-3 run after the Knights (0-1) battled to a 14-14 tie with 10:52 left in the first half.
Bellarmine went nearly nine minutes without a made field goal as Vanderbilt continued the surge by scoring the first 11 points of the second half.
Tanner and the rest of Vanderbilt’s starters exited the game with 6:49 left in the second half, holding an 80-34 lead.
Vanderbilt shot 57.7% in the first half (15 for 26), including 5 for 12 (41.7%) from 3-point range. Bellarmine shot 29.2% (7 for 24), including 2 of 12 from 3 in the first half.
Overall, the Commodores shot 60% from the field and were 7 of 19 (36.8%) from behind the arc.
Chandler Bing finished with 11 points and three rebounds. Tanner (four) and Bing (three) combined for seven of Vanderbilt’s 12 steals as the Commodores’ constant defensive pressure often disrupted the Knights and kept them from executing offensive plays until late in the shot clock. Berke Buyuktuncel had 13 points on 5 for 5 shooting and Ace Glass III had 12 points.
The Knights committed 23 turnovers, which led to 37 points for Vanderbilt. No Bellarmine player scored in double digits.
Demarcus Surratt was one of the few bright spots for Bellarmine, which is aiming for its first winning season since 2022. Surratt shot 4 of 4 from the field and finished with nine points. Jacob Wassler scored eight points and Julius Gizzi had seven.
Vanderbilt turned the ball over 14 times, but Bellarmine only turned that into five points. The Commodores outrebounded the Knights 38-20 overall and 11-6 on the offensive boards.
Overall, the Knights shot 37% from the field and 5 of 21 (23.8%) from distance.
