ATHENS, GA (EETV) - AP No. 1 Auburn men’s basketball (17-1) traveled to Stegeman Coliseum to play the No. 23 ranked Georgia Bulldogs (14-4) in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry – and for only the second time in series history, both Auburn and Georgia were ranked in the AP top-25. Despite letting Georgia back into the game with a cold stretch late in the first half, the Tigers were able to tough it out in the second half and take down a scrappy Georgia squad, 70-68.
Auburn started off the first half looking every bit of the best team in the nation, quickly going up 26-9 off an 18-2 run. The run was spearheaded by an electric first half by freshman phenom Tahaad Pettiford. Pettiford had 15 in the first half, knocking down 4-5 from beyond-the-arc and carrying the Tigers offense early in the half. Miles Kelly added seven for Auburn in the first and the game was going exactly as planned for Bruce Pearl’s No. 1 team. However, Georgia did take that Auburn punch and immediately got to work on the counter attack. The Dawgs went on an 18-7 run to end the half and cut the deficit to just six at the half. The Tigers went into the break up, 33-27.
It was the second game without senior standout and National Player of the Year Award watchlist player Johni Broome, and the Tigers felt it during their drought to end the first half, as Auburn struggled to find offense after the hot start. The Tigers shot 2-18 in the last eight minutes, a time when a healthy Johni Broome could break the cover off the basket and keep the offense on track.
Auburn started off the second half keeping the Bulldogs in check, but Georgia would not be denied, especially with the momentum they carried over from the first half. Blue Cain knocked down back-to-back threes, cutting the lead for Auburn to two points. Both teams would battle back and forth; Georgia tried to take the lead, and Auburn defended it. With about twelve minutes to go in the game, the Tigers’ defense started to lock down, with Dylan Cardwell blocking a couple shots and Chad Baker-Mazara going on a personal 8-0 run, pushing Auburn's lead back to double digits.
The absence of Johni Broome was once again felt as the Georgia frontcourt was able to go to work inside, scoring a combined 17 points as they tried to work their way back into the game. This, on top of leg cramps battled by Auburn big man Dylan Cardwell, forced another of the Tigers’ key big men to the bench for extended minutes in the half and gave the Georgia frontcourt the green light to attack the paint. The Bulldogs would cut the deficit to four with just under three minutes to go in the game after a block by Tyrin Lawrence led to an and-one on the other end. The Tigers missed a couple free throws late to give Georgia a chance to tie it with 0.3 seconds remaining, but Asa Newell’s tip was just short and Auburn was able to squeak past a tough Georgia team, 70-68.
For Georgia, it was Asa Newell who led the way with 16 points and 10 boards. Blue Cain and Tyrin Lawrence both added 12. The Dawgs shot 9-20 from the free throw line but they made up for it shooting 45.6% from the field overall. Georgia drops to 14-4 on the season and 2-3 in SEC play after back-to-back losses this week.
Auburn was led by freshman Tahaad Pettiford, who stepped up for the Broome-less Tigers, scoring a career best 24 on 5-7 from three and 7-13 from the field while also knocking down a couple clutch free throws down the stretch. Chad Baker-Mazara and Miles Kelly also added valuable production for Auburn, scoring 13 each. Denver Jones also added nine. As a team, the Tigers shot 10-23 (43.5%) from the arc and forced 12 Georgia turnovers. Auburn is now 5-0 in SEC play and has won 11 straight against SEC opponents dating back to last season. The Tigers also remain with only one loss and advance to 17-1 with the win.
The Tigers take the court next Saturday night as College Gameday comes to Neville Arena for Auburn’s huge matchup against the current No. 6 ranked Tennessee Volunteers. Doors for students and the public open at 7 AM CST for College Gameday. The game tips off between the Tigers and Volunteers at 7:30 CST.
