Top-ranked Auburn triumphs over Arkansas 67-60 despite struggling offensively

AUBURN, Ala. — Johni Broome contributed significantly with 16 points and 13 rebounds, aiding No. 1 Auburn in a narrow 67-60 victory over Arkansas on Wednesday night despite a challenging offensive outing.
After achieving a win against Alabama on Saturday, which featured a matchup of the top-ranked teams, Auburn (24-2, 12-1 Southeastern Conference) managed to avert a consecutive home defeat.
Chad Baker-Mazara scored 15 points for the Tigers, while Chaney Johnson added 14 points to the offense.
For Arkansas (15-11, 4-9), Adou Thiero was the standout performer, leading the team with 16 points, accompanied by Johnell Davis who chipped in 14 points.
The game witnessed both teams struggling from the perimeter, collectively making only seven of their 43 attempts from beyond the arc.

**Key Observations**
For Arkansas, the Razorbacks initially demonstrated promising offensive capabilities, but they struggled to sustain their early momentum. Scoring issues have plagued John Calipari’s squad throughout the SEC season, with the trend continuing on this occasion.
Auburn, on the other hand, did not showcase its best performance, particularly in terms of three-point shooting, ball control, and rim defense. Although the Tigers improved as the game progressed, Bruce Pearl’s team has had better outings at home throughout the season.

**Decisive Moment**
With just over three minutes remaining in the game, Arkansas managed to take a slim one-point lead. In response, Auburn launched a 6-0 scoring run, which ultimately secured their victory.

**Crucial Stat**
Due to their shooting woes, Auburn was reliant on second-chance opportunities, securing 16 points from 13 offensive rebounds. In contrast, Arkansas managed only four offensive rebounds, resulting in a mere three second-chance points.

**Looking Ahead**
Next up, Arkansas will return home to challenge No. 15 Missouri on Saturday, while Auburn will be set to host Georgia in their upcoming matchup.