The Auburn Tigers men’s basketball team lost its fifth straight game in heartbreaking fashion Wednesday night.
Despite an incredible second-half comeback in which the Tigers scored 52 points and held a seven-point lead with under four minutes remaining, a late scoring run by Mississippi State capped a 91-85 Bulldogs win.
Auburn now has just five games left on the regular-season schedule before tournament play begins, and with March Madness bids on the line, the Tigers could have used a win to regain momentum. The next five games will be crucial as first-year head coach Steven Pearl looks to guide Auburn to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight season.
It would be impossible to recap this game without mentioning the incredible, historic scoring performance from Mississippi State junior guard Josh Hubbard. Hubbard scored an astonishing 46 points in regulation for the Bulldogs, the second-most points scored in a single game in school history.
In the first half alone, Hubbard outscored the entire Tigers team, scoring 35 points and knocking down nine 3-pointers. Even with his scoring slowing significantly in the second half, the electric guard hit arguably the biggest shot of the game, knocking down a go-ahead 3-pointer with less than a minute left.
Even with Auburn struggling mightily in the first half, the Tigers were able to do what they have done all season: mount a strong comeback, thanks to second-half adjustments on both sides of the ball. Auburn outscored the Bulldogs by 10 points in the second half and continued to get to the free-throw line at an elite rate.
Unfortunately, the Tigers’ comeback ultimately proved to be for nothing, a familiar storyline this season. After spending the second half torching the Bulldogs’ defense, including a 17-1 scoring run, Auburn went quiet late in the game.
Close games have been devastating for Auburn this year. Of the Tigers’ eight conference losses, only one has been by more than 10 points. Missed free throws, poor clock management, crucial turnovers and rushed shot attempts have plagued Auburn late in games all season, and Wednesday night was no different.
Auburn did see strong offensive performances from its two star players. Senior Keyshawn Hall scored 29 points in his first game back from a disciplinary suspension, and sophomore Tahaad Pettiford recorded his fourth straight game with 20 or more points, finishing with 21 against the Bulldogs.
While center Keshawn Murphy struggled shooting against his former team, he provided a strong presence in the paint, grabbing 11 rebounds and recording two blocks. Junior Kevin Overton also delivered a bounce-back performance, scoring 15 points while shooting 4-for-7 from 3-point range.
Auburn’s schedule is at its weakest point of conference play heading into March, and it could not have come at a better time.
If the Tigers hope to earn an at-large bid, they will likely need to win at least three of their final five games. They will get a chance to make their case for March Madness this Saturday as they take on the blue-blood Kentucky Wildcats at Neville Arena, hoping to secure their first win in more than three weeks.
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