Auburn got a boost in scoring from Kareem Canty and Bryce Brown, but the Tigers let a late lead slip away in a 79-67 loss to Hawaii in the third-place game of the Diamond Head Classic on Christmas Day.
Canty led the Tigers with 22 points and Brown poured in a career-high 20 points.
Auburn (6-5) led by a point with just under seven minutes to play, but the Rainbow Warriors held the Tigers to just four points over the remainder of the game.
The Tigers -- who were already hampered by injuries to guards Tahj Shamsid-Deen and T.J. Dunans --suffered from a lack of depth, and they took another blow when Horace Spencer fouled out with 10 minutes remaining.
Auburn will have a few days off before opening the SEC slate against Tennessee at home on Jan. 3. The game will be nationally televised at 1 p.m. on CBS.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
