Auburn bounces back with key win over South Carolina behind Jović career performance

For the second straight game inside Neville Arena, Steven Pearl’s Auburn Tigers earned a victory, defeating South Carolina 71-67 in a gritty contest that came down to the wire.

“For this team, to be able to grind out a win like that when it's an ugly game that's important, because not every single one is going to be all high scoring,” Pearl said. “So, for us to be able to pull, pull one through like that, it's important.” 

Filip Jović was the story of the game from the start, entering after the second media timeout and beginning a career-high scoring night by backing down Gamecocks defenders for baskets on back-to-back possessions. The Serbian forward later finished a highlight-reel alley-oop from Tahaad Pettiford with a powerful dunk, sending The Jungle into a frenzy.

"Filip Jović was phenomenal," Pearl said.

Jović was the sole Tiger who scored off the bench in tonight’s contest and led the stat sheet for both teams with 23 total points, five more than his previous career high of 18. 

Tonight’s contest was full of physicality which was made known through the referees' abundant number of whistles as both teams reached the bonus long before the end of the first half.  

“I don't know what a charge is anymore,” Pearl said. “For five charges to be called tonight, I got to do a better job because I have not seen that many charges be called in the game, so we got to make an adjustment if that's if that's how it's going to get officiated.” 

Fans opinions of these questionable calls were very well known throughout the arena, but boos turned into cheers following a great and-1 finish from Jović off a forced turnover to tally his 13th point of the half and help build Auburn’s lead to six while the team’s headed to the locker room. 

Struggles from beyond the 3-point arc were evident early, as Auburn recorded just one basket from deep in the first 20 minutes while the Gamecocks totaled two, combining to shoot 3 of 23 from long range at the midway mark.

Following the intermission, the Gamecocks seemed to figure out their three-point struggles, making two triples out of the gate to cut the lead to just two points after just two and a half minutes of play in the second half.  

Jović picked up right where he left off following halftime, notching two free throws and layups respectively, capped off by an electric dunk at the 13th minute mark to surpass his old career-high of 18 points. 

“When he dunked it I just started laughing because I'm literally so proud of this dude,” teammate Sebastian Williams Adams said. “Me and Filip are now classmates and best friends. I was just super proud of him, especially when I got to see it come out his shell.” 

KeShawn Murphy and Williams-Adams were relatively quiet in the first half scoring wise but let their presence be known in the second half, combining for 12 points, 2 steals, and a block at the seven-minute mark to help give their team a seven point lead while firing up the packed crowd inside Neville. 

Pearl’s squad was able to come together to begin to pull away from the Gamecocks while up double digits, but South Carolina refused to go down without a fight pulling the contest within just three points with under one minute remaining. 

After trading free throws and baskets, clutch free throws from Hall and Kevin Overton iced the game allowing Auburn to walk away with a four-point home win. 

The Tigers improved to 11–7 overall and 2–3 in conference play and will now turn their attention to Ole Miss as they travel to Oxford for a weekday matchup with the Rebels, hoping to earn back-to-back victories for the first time since Dec. 3.