COLUMBIA, S.C. — In a gripping matchup on Saturday, Tahaad Pettiford played a pivotal role for No. 2 Auburn, assisting on a crucial dunk by Dylan Cardwell, followed by sinking two free throws with just 4.4 seconds left on the clock, helping the Tigers secure a narrow victory against South Carolina, 66-63.
Auburn was down by a single point with only 90 seconds left in the game when Pettiford passed to Cardwell, who delivered a powerful dunk that shifted the momentum in favor of the Tigers (15-1, 3-0 SEC). Pettiford’s two free throws in the closing seconds ensured a hard-fought win for the team, and he finished the game with a total of 15 points.
The game took a concerning turn for Auburn when leading scorer Johni Broome suffered a significant left ankle sprain while attempting to grab a rebound with approximately 13 minutes remaining in the second half. Broome, who had already contributed six points and three rebounds over the course of 24 minutes, left the game and is scheduled for an MRI upon the team’s return home late Saturday night, as confirmed by head coach Bruce Pearl.
For South Carolina (10-6, 0-3), Collin Murray-Boyles had an outstanding performance, leading all scorers with 25 points. However, the Gamecocks were hampered by the absence of guards Myles Stute and Jamarii Thomas, impacting their performance against the formidable Auburn team.
Looking ahead, Auburn’s victory positions them to potentially rise to the top of the national rankings following Tennessee’s recent defeat by Florida. Nonetheless, Broome’s injury casts a shadow over the team’s aspirations. On the other hand, South Carolina has a more favorable schedule coming up after dropping their first three conference games, though continuing to cope with their limited roster will be a challenge.
A pivotal moment came in the final minutes when South Carolina lost track of Cardwell, allowing him to execute a backdoor cut resulting in a dunk that gave Auburn a lead they would not relinquish.
In terms of statistics, the Gamecocks managed to edge out Auburn on the boards, finishing with a 37-33 advantage in rebounds.
Next on the agenda for Auburn is a home game against Mississippi State on Tuesday, while South Carolina will be looking to bounce back as they head to Vanderbilt for their next matchup on Wednesday.
