In the first matchup between these two, it took overtime to settle the contest. This time around, 40 minutes was enough.
Auburn (24-4, 11-4 Southeastern Conference), with its true freshman Isaac Okoro returning to the starting lineup, remained unbeaten at home on the season, defeating Ole Miss 67-58 Tuesday night behind a smothering defensive effort.
The Rebels (13-15, 4-11) made only five 3s, shot just 34% from the field and finished 11 points below its season average against the Tigers’ defense. Breein Tyree, who entered the contest as the SEC’s leading scorer at over 20 points per game, was held to 16 points on 3-of-19 shooting.
“I thought it was a terrific defensive effort tonight,” Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said. “Kermit [Davis] has got six or seven really good players, they just don’t have a lot of depth, but they’ve got two of the best guards in the league in [Devontae] Shuler and Tyree. Tyree shot 3 for 19 tonight. That’s a couple times we’ve done a pretty good job against him. Give Samir Doughty credit. He was excited about guarding him.”
Seniors Austin Wiley and Doughty led the way offensively for No. 15 Auburn. Wiley recorded his 12th double-double of the season, finishing with 15 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, while Doughty poured in 14 points and added four assists giving him 11 straight games in double figures. Wiley scored nine of his team-high 15 points in the final 8:25 to seal the victory.
“I was just trying to secure the win to be honest,” Wiley said. “I was trying to guard them and play my hardest. I knew Ole Miss was going to keep pushing and try to make a comeback and a late game push, so I tried to play my best out there.”
"Austin was physically dominant in there, and that meant a lot," said Pearl.
Okoro, who had been sidelined the past three games with a hamstring injury, managed just 10 points but was a factor on the defensive end.
"I felt pretty good just getting up and down the court," he said. "Back playing with our guys, it was pretty fun."
The freshman played 27 minutes Tuesday night, although Pearl said he only intended on playing him 16.
"It gives us a fighting chance against the best teams on our schedule," Pearl said of Okoro’s timely return. “…The game was close in the second half and he felt good, so we played him a little more and he helped us.”
Auburn led by as many as 14 points in the first half but Ole Miss continued to respond and stayed within striking distance down the stretch, switching up between zone and man defenses that frustrated the Tigers’ offense. Auburn finished with 14 turnovers.
Ole Miss pulled within two, at 41-39, midway through the second half but the Tigers built their lead back up to 12 after Devan Cambridge’s fast-break slam and corner 3 extended the lead to 58-46 with six minutes remaining.
“We tried a layup to get to two (down) and missed it," Ole Miss head coach Kermit Davis said. "That's the reason we're 4-11. That's the reason Auburn is 11-4. Samir Doughty and those guys have just made plays all SEC season long."
Auburn sunk five of six free throws over the final minute to hold on and avoid collapse at home.
For the Tigers, it was their 16th win inside Auburn Arena this season, marking the most in one season in the building’s 10-year history. They have now won 19 straight at home going back to last season.
With the win, Auburn kept pace in the conference standings and remains two games back of No. 8 Kentucky with a SEC showdown between the top two sides coming in Rupp Arena on Saturday.
Tipoff is set for 2:45 p.m. CST and will be televised on CBS.
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