AUSTIN, Texas — Johni Broome delivered an impressive performance with 20 points and 12 rebounds as the No. 2 Auburn Tigers held off a late surge from Texas, securing an 87-82 win on Tuesday evening. This victory marked a significant milestone for coach Bruce Pearl, as he set a new record for the most career wins at Auburn.
Auburn (14-1, 2-0 SEC) established a commanding lead of 21 points in the second half. The team utilized its size and length effectively during much of the game. However, Texas responded resiliently, led by Arthur Kaluma and Jordan Pope, narrowing the gap to just three points in the final moments. Denver Jones and Tahaad Pettiford contributed crucial free throws in the last 17 seconds, which ultimately sealed the victory for the Tigers.
This win represents Pearl’s 214th career victory in his remarkable 11-year tenure at Auburn, surpassing the previous record of 213 held by Joel Eaves, who coached the team from 1949 to 1963.
Kaluma put forth a stellar effort for Texas (11-4, 0-2) with 34 points, shooting an impressive 12-of-16 from the field. Meanwhile, Pope notched 17 of his 19 points in the second half, contributing significantly to Texas’s comeback attempts. A key moment came when Kaluma nailed a three-pointer with just 50 seconds remaining, followed by Pope sinking two free throws, bringing Texas within 83-80.
Auburn’s potential to ascend to the top spot in the rankings has grown, especially following No. 1 Tennessee’s recent loss to Florida, who defeated them 73-43 on Tuesday night.
On the other hand, the Longhorns were previously overwhelmed in the paint with a 48-16 deficit during their prior game against Texas A&M, which they lost by 20 points. However, they showed greater resilience this time, matching Auburn’s 28 points in the paint.
A pivotal moment in the game came when Broome’s buzzer-beating jumper widened the gap to 10 points with just 1:23 left, though he quickly received a technical foul. Pope capitalized by converting two free throws, and Tre Johnson’s jumper kept Texas very much in contention.
A noteworthy statistic from the game highlighted Texas’s struggles, as they recorded just one assist and no three-pointers during the first half.
Looking ahead, both teams are set to compete again on Saturday. Auburn will travel to face South Carolina, while Texas will host the top-ranked Tennessee Vols.
