For the second time this season, Auburn finds itself in the midst of a three-game losing streak.
The Tigers rebounded from their previous three-game losing streak, which was in early December, with a five-game winning streak that built momentum heading into conference play.
However, Bruce Pearl said the Tigers are still searching for answers to the cause of Auburn's current streak, a lack of size and bench contributions.
"It has a cumulative affect on us," Pearl said. "It has a lot to do with 42-14 in the paint. They executed. They got to the rim and their guard turned corners on us. It was just really hard to keep them out in front."
Leading scorers KT Harrell, Cinmeon Bowers and Antoine Mason accounted for 41 of Auburn's 61 points in a 71-61 home loss to Texas A&M Tuesday night.
Those numbers were an improvement from the 49 points the trio accounted for in the Tigers' 57-55 loss to Alabama on Saturday, Jan. 24.
"My biggest concern moving forward is I have to find a way for our team to play better offensively," Pearl said. "We need to get each other open and find each other. It has been a challenge."
The addition of 7-foot-2 center Trayvon Reed in December brought hope that the true freshman could be an answer to both of the Tigers' woes, but Pearl said Reed, who only played four minutes against Texas A&M, just hasn't developed enough yet.
"We have to get more from the bench, so do we try to speed that process up?" Pearl said. "I will continue to look at Trayvon Reed. His attitude has been great."
With potential NCAA Tournament teams such as LSU and Arkansas looming in the coming weeks, Pearl said he'd have to make a decision whether or not to speed up the development of his tallest player.
Meanwhile, a recurring shoulder injury to guard Tahj Shamsid-Deen has done little to help the Tigers' woes on depth chart.
Shamsid-Deen, who Pearl said he considers one of the top defenders on the team, reinjured his shoulder against A&M and was forced to miss much of the game. Pearl said a long-term diagnosis for his sixth man is not yet known.
"(Shamsid-Deen) is an important defensive player for us because he is a great communicator, he is quick and he makes plays," Pearl said. "It hurts when you don't have him out there."
Auburn's next chance to get back on the winning track will come on Pearl's old stomping grounds: The University of Tennessee.
The Volunteers, who started the SEC season 4-1 before dropping their last two games, will be a test for the Tigers with Josh Richardson and an elongated zone defense, a staple of head coach Donnie Tyndall.
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