The No. 1 ranked Auburn Tigers narrowly avoided an upset on the road against No. 23 Georgia, escaping Athens with a thrilling 70-68 victory. The win extends Auburn’s impressive winning streak to 10 games and solidifies their position atop the rankings. Even without injured star Johni Broome, the resilient Tigers found a way to triumph in a hostile road environment.
Pettiford Rises to the Occasion
Tahaad Pettiford delivered a clutch performance off the bench for Auburn, draining 5 of 7 shots from beyond the arc en route to a team-high 24 points. His scoring outburst helped carry the Tigers on a night when their offensive rhythm seemed disrupted by Broome’s absence and a raucous opposing crowd.
We knew it would be a battle coming in here, but I’m proud of the way our guys stepped up. Tahaad was huge for us tonight knocking down those threes.
– Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl
Bulldogs’ Bricklaying
Georgia will rue their miserable 9-for-20 performance from the free throw line, which ultimately sealed their fate in this tight contest. The Bulldogs had a chance to force overtime in the final seconds but squandered multiple opportunities:
- 0:09 – Down 70-67, a Miles Kelly turnover gave Georgia the ball with a chance to tie
- 0:07 – Dakota Leffew’s potential game-tying three was too strong
- 0:00 – Asa Newell’s buzzer-beater attempt also missed the mark
Tigers Tested, but Prevail Again
The hard-fought win over Georgia marks the latest in a series of trials for Auburn. The Tigers are now an impressive 6-1 against AP Top 25 opponents this season, the best such record in the nation. They tied a program record for most wins over ranked foes in the AP Poll era.
While Broome’s status going forward remains uncertain, Auburn continues to find ways to win even without one of their top players and emotional leaders. Their perfect 5-0 mark in SEC play has them poised to contend for a conference title, though they can expect every opponent’s best shot as they wear the No. 1 target.
The Road Ahead
Auburn returns home for their next contest against Texas A&M before a showdown at No. 4 Tennessee next Saturday. The Volunteers are also undefeated in SEC action, setting up a potential battle for sole possession of first place.
While the Tigers passed another stern test, their season is only just halfway complete. To achieve their ultimate goals, they must maintain this high level of play and find additional contributors to step up when needed. If Pettiford’s performance against Georgia is any indication, this Auburn squad has no shortage of players ready to rise to the moment.
