In a thrilling showdown at Humphrey Coliseum, the Auburn men's basketball team mounted an impressive comeback against Mississippi State, only to fall short in the final moments. The Bulldogs secured a 91-85 victory, closing the game with an 18-5 run that left Auburn just out of reach.
Auburn, trailing by 16 at halftime and by 18 early in the second half, displayed remarkable resilience. They surged back to take a 7-point lead with under four minutes remaining. However, Mississippi State responded with precision, hitting five of their last six shots and converting all six free throws to seal the win.
The standout performance of the night came from SEC's leading scorer, Josh Hubbard, who poured in 35 of his 46 points in the first half alone. His explosive play helped the Bulldogs build a 49-33 halftime lead.
Auburn managed to contain Hubbard for much of the second half, holding him scoreless from the field for 18 minutes. Yet, his critical corner three-pointer with 44 seconds left put Mississippi State ahead 85-83, a lead they would not relinquish.
Auburn's Keyshawn Hall was a force, recording 29 points and 10 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season. Tahaad Pettiford also shone, scoring 21 points and adding four assists, marking his fourth consecutive game with 20+ points. Overton contributed 15 points, rounding out Auburn's trio of double-figure scorers.
Reflecting on the game, Auburn head coach Steven Pearl expressed the team's disappointment: "This was devastating. You can’t let someone score 46 points and expect to win. It was a great comeback and we showed a lot of grit, a lot of fight, but we have to do a better job as a staff of being up seven with four minutes left."
The game began with Mississippi State taking an early lead, fueled by Hubbard's hot shooting. He connected on three deep triples, including two under pressure from the shot clock, pushing the Bulldogs ahead 18-6. Hall kept Auburn in contention with 14 early points, sparking an 8-0 run that narrowed the gap.
As the first half concluded, Hubbard's 35-point explosion had Mississippi State shooting 58 percent, while Auburn struggled at 38 percent. Hall's 16 points were crucial in keeping the Tigers within striking distance.
In the second half, Hall and Pettiford combined for 12 quick points, cutting the deficit to 11. Auburn's momentum continued with a 20-4 run, highlighted by Overton's clutch three-pointers, bringing them within two points.
Auburn eventually grabbed its first lead on a putback by KeShawn Murphy, and the teams exchanged leads six times in a nail-biting finish. Murphy's free throw and subsequent offensive rebound led to a Pettiford three, giving Auburn a 74-73 edge. Overton's fourth triple extended the lead to 80-73, forcing a Mississippi State timeout.
In the end, the Bulldogs' late-game composure and Hubbard's pivotal three-pointer made the difference, as Mississippi State overturned the 7-point deficit to claim a hard-fought victory.