Auburn Grinds Out First Road Win of the Season, Tops Ole Miss Behind Hall, Pettiford, and a Dominant Frontcourt
In a rivalry that’s seen its fair share of twists over the decades, Auburn made sure Tuesday night in Oxford was another one to remember-for Tiger fans, at least. With a 78-66 win over Ole Miss, Auburn not only grabbed its 10th consecutive victory over the Rebels but also picked up something it hadn’t seen all season: a win on the road.
This one didn’t come easy. In fact, for the first 20 minutes, it looked like Auburn might be writing another chapter in its road struggles. But thanks to a second-half surge, a frontcourt that owned the glass, and a pair of guards who stepped up when it mattered, the Tigers walked out of the Sandy and John Black Pavilion with a much-needed SEC win.
Let’s break it down.
A Tale of Two Halves: From Cold to Controlled
If you only caught the first half, you might’ve thought this was a rock fight. Auburn couldn’t buy a bucket from deep, going 1-for-10 from beyond the arc. That cold streak wasn’t just an isolated stretch either-when you include the previous game against South Carolina, the Tigers were just 3-for-29 from three going into the break.
Despite the shooting woes, Auburn clung to a slim one-point lead at halftime, largely because Ole Miss wasn’t exactly lighting it up either. The Rebels shot just slightly better from the field, with Ilias Kamardine leading all scorers at the break with eight points.
But the second half? That was a different story.
Auburn flipped the switch coming out of the locker room, shooting a blistering 54.2% from the field after halftime. Keyshawn Hall and Tahaad Pettiford led the charge, combining for 36 points-Hall with a game-high 19 and Pettiford close behind with 17. The Tigers didn’t just survive their shooting slump-they powered through it.
“Felt like we had to have that one,” Auburn coach Steven Pearl said postgame. “Struggled on the road, switched up a few things in our preparation, just trying to keep it light. I thought our guys responded.”
Owning the Paint: Auburn’s Frontcourt Shines
The real difference-maker? Auburn’s bigs.
KeShawn Murphy had himself a night, pulling down a career-high 14 rebounds to go with 16 points. That kind of presence on the glass helped Auburn dominate the rebounding battle, 42-26. And it wasn’t just about grabbing boards-the Tigers made life miserable for Ole Miss in the paint on both ends.
Auburn racked up 38 points in the paint compared to just eight from Ole Miss. That’s not a typo-38 to 8. The Tigers were relentless inside, going 14-for-21 on layups and getting more than half their total points from two-point range.
Filip Jovic chipped in with five points on a perfect shooting night, while Sebastian Williams-Adams added 10 points and Elyjah Freeman contributed nine points and six boards. It was a full-team effort down low, and it showed.
Defense Travels-and Auburn’s Did Just Enough
Auburn’s defense has been a steadying force all season, and once again, it showed up when needed.
The Tigers held Ole Miss to just three double-digit scorers and forced the Rebels into tough shots inside the arc. While Ole Miss did manage to hit 10 threes to stay within striking distance, Auburn’s defense clamped down in the paint and limited second-chance opportunities.
Kamardine, who had led the Rebels at halftime, was held scoreless in the second half. Aj Storr led Ole Miss with 18 points, while Travis Perry and Paxton Pinkins combined for 30, but the Tigers made sure the damage stayed manageable.
Auburn also forced four steals and turned them into 11 fastbreak points. They were active on the defensive glass, pulling down 29 defensive rebounds and limiting Ole Miss to just 21% of its points in the paint.
“We didn’t panic when it came down to 3,” Pearl said. “That’s an important win. Not a lot of teams are going to come in here and get this win.”
What’s Next
With the win, Auburn improves to 12-7 overall and evens out at 3-3 in SEC play. More importantly, they finally have that elusive road victory under their belt. Confidence matters in conference play, and this one could be a turning point.
Next up: a trip to Gainesville to take on the Florida Gators. If Auburn can bottle up the second-half version of themselves-and keep that frontcourt humming-they’ll be a tough out for anyone in the SEC.