Auburn dropped its third SEC matchup of the season on Wednesday night, falling 84-74 on the road to Missouri. And while the final score doesn’t lean in the Tigers’ favor, there’s more to unpack beneath the surface-because this wasn’t a game lost on effort or hustle.
Auburn actually won the turnover battle and pulled down more rebounds. But the real difference came down to shot-making, and Missouri simply had the hotter hand.
The numbers don’t lie: Missouri shot a blistering 56% from the field, while Auburn struggled to find rhythm offensively, converting just 41% of its attempts. That kind of disparity is hard to overcome, especially on the road in conference play.
Still, there were flashes of promise-especially from freshman forward Sebastian Williams-Adams, who continues to make his presence felt in limited minutes. Coming off the bench, Williams-Adams poured in 12 points in just 19 minutes before fouling out late in the game. Head coach Steven Pearl didn’t mince words postgame when talking about his impact.
“He played really well in the minutes he played,” Pearl said. “He was plus-1 in 19.
If he plays 30 minutes in this game, the outcome is different because he is so productive and so accountable for that. The first one was a clear foul, but I thought he got a tough whistle as the game went on.
He’s an energy boost and the guys feed off all the things he does.”
It’s not just coach speak-Williams-Adams was efficient and assertive. He went 3-of-5 from the field, knocked down all three of his free throws, and added three rebounds, an assist, and a block. His physicality and motor were noticeable, and it’s clear he’s earning more trust from the staff and teammates alike.
He wasn’t the only Tiger to make an impression, though. Filip Jovic turned in one of his more complete performances of the season.
In just 22 minutes, Jovic went a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor, chipped in eight points, grabbed five boards, and swiped two steals. It was his most impactful outing since his double-double at Georgia earlier this month, and it came at a time when Auburn needed a steady two-way contributor.
Kevin Overton also continued his consistent scoring stretch, tying for the team lead with 13 points. Overton has now scored in double figures in six straight games, and his ability to stretch the floor was on display again-he hit 3-of-7 from deep and was perfect at the line. He’s becoming a reliable perimeter threat and a key piece in Auburn’s offensive puzzle.
When the fans weighed in postgame, there was no debate: Sebastian Williams-Adams ran away with the “Tiger of the Game” honors, earning 73% of the vote. And it’s hard to argue. Despite fouling out, his energy, efficiency, and impact in limited minutes left a lasting impression-and not just on the box score.
Wednesday’s loss stings, but it also highlights the pieces Auburn has to build around. If Williams-Adams continues to develop, and if players like Jovic and Overton keep trending upward, this team still has the tools to make noise in the SEC.
The challenge now? Turning those flashes into full-game consistency.