---

Harrell, defense, push Tigers to quarterfinal

By David McKinney | Assistant Sports Editor | March 13

Bruce Pearl’s program turnaround effort is in full force. For the first time since 2000, the Auburn basketball team has won back-to-back games in the SEC Tournament, today’s win a 66-59 comeback victory over the fifth seed Texas A&M. The Tigers came out firing, but found themselves in a 10 point hole at halftime, down 33-23.

Jeremy Johnson top contender for quarterback

By Eric Wallace | Sports Writer | March 13

It’s been a long two years for Jeremy Johnson. The No. 5 overall quarterback in the class of 2013, according to Rivals.com, Johnson has spent the majority of the last two seasons watching from the sideline as the Nick Marshall-led Tigers raced to SEC and BCS Championship Games.

Auburn knocks off Mississippi State, Advances to second round of SEC Tournament

By Sam Butler | Sports Writer | March 12

For the first time since 2009, Auburn will be playing on the second day of the SEC Tournament. Coach Bruce Pearl’s first season will last for at least one more day, as his Auburn Tigers snapped a six-game losing streak by knocking off the Mississippi State Bulldogs, 74-68, behind 56 combined points from K.C.

Lutzenkirchen’s father preserves son’s legacy​

By David McKinney | Assistant Sports Editor | March 12

On June 30, 2014, former standout Auburn tight end and fan favorite Philip Lutzenkirchen made a decision. After a night of drinking, Philip got into the backseat of a Chevrolet Tahoe that was being driven by Joseph Ian Davis. Neither Davis nor Philip made it out alive after Davis failed to stop at a stop sign.

Mike Lutzenkirchen reaches out to students during emotional 'Lessons from Lutz'

By Eric Wallace | Sports Writer | March 12

“My son was a 23-year old man and was mature beyond his age because of Auburn University,” Lutzenkirchen said. “Philip made the choice to do what he did and he made the choice to get in that vehicle. I just don’t want to see other kids make it. That gives me strength to have a conversation about those details.”

Softball defeats Troy in second competition

March 11

It was only a two-run game for the Tigers on Wednesday, March 11, against Troy, but two was all they needed to seal the victory, allowing no runs from the Trojans. Coming back into Alabama from sunny Fullerton, California with three out of five game wins, the Tiger’s were in great shape to battle the Trojans for the second time this season, even if they still aren’t back at Jane B.

12 Tigers qualify for NCAA Championships

By Derek Thompson | Sports Reporter | March 11

Twelve athletes (10 swimmers and two divers) punched their ticket to compete in the 2015 NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships March 26-28 in Iowa City, Iowa. The swimmers who earned a place in the competition are senior Alex Hancock, junior Arthur Mendes, sophomores Kyle Darmody, Michael Duderstadt and Joe Patching and freshmen Peter Holoda, Jacob Molacek, Hugo Morris and Zack Warner. Senior Fraser McKean will lead the divers and compete on the 1-meter, 3-meter and platform for the second straight year after his performances at the NCAA Zone B Diving Championships March 9-11.

Golloway feels confident heading into conference opener

By Sam Butler | Sports Writer | March 11

With his Auburn squad sitting at 13-4 heading into conference play, coach Sunny Golloway said he feels his team is ready to get into the thick of the season. “We’re excited to be going to Texas A&M and excited to be starting conference play,” Golloway said during Wednesday’s teleconference.

Pearl, Tigers look toward Nashville

By David McKinney | Assistant Sports Editor | March 11

It’s do or die time. From here on out, every game for Auburn’s men’s basketball team could be their last of the season as begin Southeastern Conference tournament play Wednesday, March 11, in Nashville, Tennessee. The first opponent is a familiar one in the Mississippi State Bulldogs, who the Tigers lost to 78-71 at Auburn Arena in January.

Samford takes down Auburn at home

By Derek Thompson | Sports Reporter | March 11

Derek Thompson Sports Reporter Samford takes down Auburn at home In-state opponent Samford defeated Auburn 6-0 Tuesday, March 10 at Plainsman Park. It was all Samford (5-8) as the Tigers committed six errors, gave up three unearned runs and couldn’t get the bats going against Bulldog’s pitcher Parker Curry. Curry picked up the win after the junior gave up only five hits, allowed zero runs, no walks and recorded seven strikeouts through eight innings. “We looked at the pitch count,” said head coach Sunny Golloway.

Errors doom Tigers against Samford

By Derek Thompson | Sports Reporter | March 11

“We looked at the pitch count,” coach Sunny Golloway said. “They had 41 pitches thrown through five complete innings. I know for a fact that is the least amount of pitches against a program I have ever had the fortune to be in charge of. That can’t happen. Our approach was not good tonight.”

No. 9 Auburn men’s golf wins Tiger Invitational

By Andrew Monson | Sports Writer | March 10

The No. 9 Auburn men’s golf team won the Tiger Invitational Presented by Jason Dufner at Grand National’s Lake Course on Tuesday, March 10, by 28 strokes, a tournament record. Auburn’s Michael Johnson also earned his first collegiate individual win, shooting a final round 2-under and 8-under total. Johnson, who previously set the Auburn 54-hole record at 16-under last September, beat Georgia State’s J.J.

​New defense, no problem for Jonathan Jones

By Andrew Monson | Sports Writer | March 10

With the hiring of Will Muschamp as defensive coordinator, senior cornerback Jonathan Jones is learning his third defense during his four years at Auburn. But that does not seem to bother Jones at all, who has a simple approach to learning new schemes. “The thing about football is there’s different terminology, but it’s basically the same thing,” Jones said.

Tigers confident in replacements for Coates

By David McKinney | Assistant Sports Editor | March 10

“He’s a guy that has a lot of experience,” Malzahn said. “All the seniors have experience, and we’ve really asked them to raise the level and he’s one of those guys. He’s a made a lot of plays for us in the past, and we expect big things out of him.”

Junior Emily Carosone was named the USA Softball Collegiate National Player of the Week

By Sam Butler | Sports Writer | March 10

Junior Emily Carosone was named the USA Softball Collegiate National Player of the Week, one day after being honored as the SEC Softball Player of the Week. Carosone has led Auburn to a school-record 25-2 record, including a weekend trip out west where the Tigers picked up four wins, including two over ranked opponents — No.

Carosone named USA Softball Collegiate National Player of the Week

By Sam Butler | Sports Writer | March 10

Junior Emily Carosone was named the USA Softball Collegiate National Player of the Week, one day after being honored as the SEC Softball Player of the Week. Carosone has led Auburn to a school-record 25-2 record, including a weekend trip out west where the Tigers picked up four wins, including two over ranked opponents — No.

Johnson starts spring as top QB, must 'win' job

By David McKinney | Assistant Sports Editor | March 10

“Jeremy Johnson will be our first quarterback to take snaps,” Malzahn said. “Sean White, Tyler Queen and Jason Smith will all get reps. Coach Lashlee has a plan."

Running back trio to rotate during spring competition

By David McKinney | Assistant Sports Editor | March 10

“Those guys will be rotating,” Malzahn said. “We’ll try to put those guys in equal situations with the first line, with the second line and we’ll rotate those guys.”