Auburn Rallies from 14 Down to Beat Texas Behind Hall and Overton’s Second-Half Surge
Coming off a program-defining win at Florida, the challenge for Auburn was clear: don’t let the high of that historic road victory turn into a hangover at home. And for a while, it looked like that warning might go unheeded.
The Tigers came out flat against Texas on Wednesday night, falling behind by as many as 14 in the first half and struggling to find any rhythm on either end. But then came the flip - a second-half performance that was as explosive as it was efficient, powered by Keyshawn Hall and Kevin Overton, who combined for 42 points after halftime to lift Auburn to an 88-82 comeback win at Neville Arena.
It was Auburn’s fourth straight win and a gritty reminder that this team isn’t just about defense anymore - they’ve got the firepower to go shot-for-shot when it matters most.
Hall and Overton Flip the Script
Auburn’s first-half offense was stuck in the mud. The Tigers shot just 39% from the field, and at one point were staring at a 14-point deficit - their largest in SEC play this season. The crowd was restless, the energy uneven, and Texas was hitting everything from deep.
But just before halftime, a few sparks started to fly. Tahaad Pettiford nailed a three, and Hall followed with a four-point play that gave the Tigers a pulse heading into the locker room.
Then came the avalanche.
Hall and Overton came out of the break like men on a mission. They attacked from the perimeter, each drilling back-to-back threes early in the second half to slice into Texas’ lead. Overton’s fourth triple of the night forced Texas head coach Sean Miller to burn a timeout with the Longhorns clinging to a 52-50 lead.
Auburn finally took control with 11:30 to play, thanks to a put-back bucket by Elyjah Freeman. Overton’s fifth three - another dagger - had Texas scrambling again. By the time Hall knocked down a mid-range jumper from the free-throw line with three minutes left, Auburn had built a 10-point cushion.
Texas made one last push, trimming the lead to four with under a minute to go, but Auburn sealed it at the line.
The numbers tell the story: Auburn shot a scorching 68% in the second half - a massive jump from their sluggish first-half clip. They hit 6-of-9 from three after the break, with Hall and Overton delivering momentum-shifting shots and KeShawn Murphy even banking one in for good measure.
Texas Came Out Firing - and Auburn Felt It
Texas didn’t just walk into Neville Arena - they came in guns blazing. The Longhorns, who average 7.5 threes per game, hit seven in the first 11 minutes.
That’s not a typo. They started 7-of-10 from deep and finished the first half 8-of-14.
It wasn’t that Auburn’s defense was asleep - Texas was simply hitting tough, contested shots. Dailyn Swain led the charge with 30 points, and for a stretch, it felt like everything the Longhorns threw up was going in.
That early barrage stunned the crowd and put Auburn on its heels. But Texas also coughed the ball up nine times in the first half, which helped the Tigers hang around long enough to regroup.
The second half was a different story. Auburn’s defense tightened up, holding Texas to just 4-of-12 from beyond the arc after halftime. The Tigers didn’t need to shut them down completely - they just needed to cool them off enough to give their offense time to catch fire.
Surviving the Slow Start
Let’s be clear: Auburn didn’t win this game with a wire-to-wire performance. The first 20 minutes were rough. The Tigers opened 2-of-10 from the field, struggled to create clean looks, and were visibly frustrated - both with the officials and themselves.
Kevin Overton picked up a technical foul. Pettiford started 1-of-7. Hall was swarmed every time he touched the ball, and nobody else was stepping into the void.
But Auburn’s identity this season has been about finding ways to win, even when the offense isn’t clicking. They’ve leaned on their defense during this four-game win streak, grinding out low-scoring battles when the shots weren’t falling.
This time, they flipped the script. They weathered the storm, found their stars, and let them cook.
MVP: Keyshawn Hall
When the game tightened in the final minutes, there was no doubt who Auburn was going to. Hall became the focal point of the offense, drawing fouls, hitting jumpers, and making the kind of plays that swing games in March.
He scored 25 of his 31 points in the second half, going 11-of-14 from the free-throw line after the break. He even drew a foul on a three-point attempt inside the final three minutes - a veteran move in a high-pressure moment.
Overton deserves his flowers too. He finished with 25 points and hit 5-of-7 from deep, providing the perimeter punch Auburn desperately needed.
But this was Hall’s night. His ability to take over in isolation, get to his spots, and force Texas to adjust was the difference.
Auburn’s now 5-3 in SEC play and winners of four of their last five. More importantly, they showed they can win a game that doesn’t follow their usual script.
When the defense faltered early, the offense stepped up. When the stars were needed, they delivered.
It wasn’t perfect. But it was gutsy, electric, and exactly the kind of win that builds momentum in late January.