Vanderbilt Commodores Beat Western Kentucky Hilltoppers At Battle 4 Atlantis
Sometimes, you just have to survive and advance. The No. 24 Vanderbilt Commodores learned that lesson the hard way in Paradise Island, needing every last second to fend off a ferocious comeback from Western Kentucky, ultimately escaping with an 83-78 victory in the Battle 4 Atlantis.
Let’s be honest, this wasn’t the offensive juggernaut we’ve seen from Vanderbilt (6-0) this season. They entered the game averaging a ridiculous 103 points, but the Hilltoppers’ scrappy, physical defense had other plans. It was less of a track meet and more of a back-alley brawl, and for a while, it looked like Vandy might be the one getting knocked out.
Vanderbilt’s Stars Shine Just Bright Enough
When the going gets tough, you lean on your stars. Duke Miles and Devin McGlockton put on their hard hats and went to work. Miles was the engine, pouring in 28 points and looking every bit the part of a seasoned leader. McGlockton was the muscle, adding 22 points of his own and making crucial plays down the stretch.
But just when it seemed Vanderbilt had things under control, cruising with a comfortable 15-point lead, the wheels started to wobble. The team’s Achilles’ heel? The free-throw line. Missed foul shots in the final minutes turned what should have been a routine win into a heart-stopping, palm-sweating drama. You could almost hear Coach Mark Byington’s hair turning gray from the sidelines.
Western Kentucky’s Valiant Upset Bid
Give all the credit in the world to Western Kentucky (4-1). They refused to quit, even after losing their second-leading scorer, Grant Newell, to an ankle injury early on. Teagan Moore put the team on his back, lighting up the scoreboard with 24 points. Cam Haffner channeled his inner Steph Curry, draining five threes for 18 points and making Vanderbilt fans everywhere question their life choices.
The Hilltoppers clawed their way back, turning a double-digit deficit into a one-possession game in the blink of an eye. A steal here, a three-pointer there, and suddenly the pressure was squarely on Vanderbilt. It was a classic “hold on for dear life” scenario that no ranked team ever wants to find itself in, especially in a holiday tournament.
In the end, it was Miles who played the hero, sinking two ice-cold free throws with just 1.9 seconds left to finally put the game away. It was a collective sigh of relief for the Commodores, who now advance to face the winner of the South Florida-VCU game on Thanksgiving Day. As for Western Kentucky, they’ll get the loser, but they walk away with their heads held high, knowing they gave a top-25 team everything it could handle and then some.
