How did Nebraska beat Vanderbilt?

How Nebraska advanced to the Sweet 16

Nebraska kept its season alive in a late, high-stakes NCAA Tournament game against Vanderbilt. With the game on the line, Vanderbilt star Tyler Tanner got off a final heave at the buzzer that rims out, preventing a miracle finish.

Instead, Nebraska survived and moved on with a 74–72 win, punching its way to the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history.

The key late sequence

The decisive moment came with very little time remaining. Braden Frager made a driving layup with 2.2 seconds left to give Nebraska the lead. From there, Vanderbilt’s last shot missed—ending the comeback attempt and sealing Nebraska’s advancement.

Why the result matters

For Nebraska, this was a landmark win that turned a season of “can they do it” questions into a historic tournament run. Advancing to the Sweet 16 also sets up additional exposure and recruiting momentum tied to the program’s first extended national spotlight in this era.

For Vanderbilt, the game was a gut-punch after being so close to sending the matchup to overtime or pulling off an upset late. The storylines around the buzzer moment became a defining part of the loss, with reactions from both teams centering on how close Tanner was to becoming March Madness legend.

What to remember

• Nebraska got a go-ahead basket from Frager with seconds left.
• Tanner’s final, buzzer-beating heave missed.
• The win sends Nebraska to the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history.