Auburn Stumbles in College Station: No. 1 Tigers Underwhelming in 83-72 Loss
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – No. 1 Auburn ran into a buzzsaw Tuesday night at Reed Arena, falling 83-72 to No. 22 Texas A&M in a game that was never really in the Tigers' control.
From the opening tip, Texas A&M played with more energy, more physicality, and more urgency. Auburn never led, struggled on the glass, and couldn't generate the kind of defensive stops that have been a trademark of this season's success.
"We just didn't step up," head coach Bruce Pearl said. "They physically dominated the game. We got pushed around tonight. Give Texas A&M credit. They've beaten us before this way."
Auburn Overwhelmed on the Boards
The story of the night? Rebounding. The Aggies outrebounded Auburn 41-25, including a staggering 24 offensive rebounds. Those extra possessions turned into 29 second-chance points, an impossible gap to overcome on the road.
Auburn had no answer inside, as Texas A&M bullied the Tigers in the paint and controlled the tempo. Even when Auburn made small runs, the Aggies had an answer every time.
Pettiford's Breakout Game a Bright Spot
If there was one positive from the night, it was Tahaad Pettiford. The freshman guard made his first career start in place of injured Denver Jones and took full advantage of the opportunity.
Pettiford led Auburn with 19 points, hitting six three-pointers, including five in the second half. Chad Baker-Mazara added 15 points and five assists, while Miles Kelly scored 12 points and went a perfect 10-for-10 at the free-throw line.
Auburn shot 50% from the field (25-of-50) and 40.9% from three (9-of-22), solid numbers, but not enough to overcome the rebounding disparity and defensive breakdowns.
Johni Broome Battles Injury, Makes History
Senior Johni Broome wasn't himself Tuesday night, finishing with just eight points and seven rebounds while dealing with a shoulder injury. Despite the tough night, Broome made history, becoming only the fourth player in NCAA Division I history to reach 2,500 career points and 1,500 rebounds.
That's a milestone that puts Broome in legendary company alongside Elvin Hayes, Elgin Baylor, and Dickie Hemric.
What's Next: Time to Regroup Before Alabama
Auburn doesn't have time to dwell on this one. The Tigers head home to Neville Arena on Saturday for a massive showdown with No. 7 Alabama (1:30 p.m. CT, ESPN).
The SEC regular-season title is already secured, but Auburn still has plenty to play for, including locking up a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament and, more importantly, getting back to playing Auburn basketball before the postseason.
"We'll be excited about playing at home on Saturday," Pearl said. "You'd like to be playing your best basketball heading into postseason. We've got the conference championship wrapped up. We'd like to try to wrap up the No. 1 seed. More importantly, I want to see how we respond."
Texas A&M was a wake-up call. Now, it's about how Auburn answers on Saturday against their biggest rival.