February 28, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Collin Chandler (5) celebrates with guard Denzel Aberdeen (1) after Aberdeen scored a 3-point goal in the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Image Colin Chandler scored a career-high 23 points and hit six 3-pointers as Kentucky exacted revenge with a 91-77 victory over No. 25 Vanderbilt on Saturday in Lexington, Kentucky.
Otega Oweh also had 23 points, Denzel Aberdeen had 15 and Malachi Moreno added 11. That’s because the Wildcats (19-10, 10-6 SEC) got some revenge after losing 80-55 to the Commodores earlier this season.
Tyler Tanner scored 19 points and Jalen Washington added 16 for Vanderbilt (22-7, 9-7), which has dropped three of its last five games in conference play. Tyler Nickel had 13 points, AK Okereke added 12 and Duke Miles had 11 for the Commodores.
The Wildcats were hot in the first half, shooting 54.8% in the first half, including 9-for-16 (56.3%) from 3-point range, and opened a 20-point lead that Vanderbilt narrowed to 46-31 at halftime. Chandler hit five 3-pointers in the first half and scored 15 points.
Kentucky shot 58.8% for the game and made half of its 22 3-point attempts.
Vanderbilt never led once in the game and fell by double digits for the first time with 13:31 left in the first half. The Commodores led 48-36 early in the first half, but were unable to cut the deficit below double digits in the second half.
Chandler was 6-for-8 from 3-point range and Oweh was 9-for-16 from the floor with four assists.
Kentucky posted a winning record in SEC play to earn a bye on the opening day of the SEC Tournament.
Tanner went 9-of-12 from the floor for Vanderbilt, while Washington went 7-of-8 from the bench and grabbed seven rebounds. Miles added seven assists.
Vanderbilt started the season 16-0 but is now 3-4 since a loss to Oklahoma on Feb. 7. The Commodores entered the game ranked No. 17 in the NET.
–Field level media
