NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt used a commanding rebounding advantage and a balanced offense to defeat UAB 97-65 on Monday night at Memorial Gymnasium, improving to 2-0 in preseason exhibitions.
The Commodores had four players score in double figures and outrebounded the Blazers 53-35, including 17 offensive rebounds. The performance offered another encouraging sign for a team entering the season ranked in the Top 25.
Vanderbilt’s frontcourt helped dictate the game. Berke Buyuktuncel collected 10 rebounds, Bangot Dak added five and Jayden Leverett had four as the Commodores consistently created second-chance opportunities and limited UAB’s effectiveness inside.
While the exhibition provided no guarantee of how Vanderbilt will fare against Southeastern Conference opponents, its interior play showed how an expanded frontcourt could complement an offense led by point guard Tyler Tanner.
Freshman Ant Brown Jr. provided another option at the position, finishing with 10 points and 10 assists. He handled substantial stretches of the offense and repeatedly created scoring opportunities for teammates.
Brown arrived with a reputation as a scorer, but his passing stood out Monday. His ability to run the offense could give coach Mark Byington flexibility to use him alongside Tanner or put the ball in his hands when Tanner rests.
Vanderbilt also recovered from a slow start on the perimeter. After missing nine of their first 10 attempts from 3-point range, the Commodores made 10 of their final 19 to finish 11 of 29, or 37.9%.
That turnaround allowed Vanderbilt to pair its interior production with perimeter scoring, with much of the shooting improvement coming before the closing minutes.
Jackson Sheffield continued to make a case for playing time through his physical play, mobility and activity, though free-throw shooting remains an issue. He has missed all seven of his attempts through two exhibitions.
Despite those struggles, Sheffield was Vanderbilt’s second substitute Monday, an indication that Byington is continuing to give him opportunities in the rotation.
Byington said afterward that he has yet to settle on his regular lineups or determine which combinations he can consistently trust. Players also described a team still experimenting as individual roles take shape.
Through two exhibitions, Vanderbilt has shown depth and several ways to generate offense. How those pieces fit into a regular rotation remains a question as the season approaches.
