No. 6/7 Tennessee Falls Short in Thrilling 53-51 Loss to No. 1 Auburn
AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 6/7 Tennessee men’s basketball team narrowly missed a chance to upset top-ranked Auburn, falling 53-51 in a tightly contested defensive battle at a packed Neville Arena on Saturday night. Senior guard Zakai Zeigler led the Volunteers with 14 points, six rebounds, and five assists, but Auburn secured the win in the closing seconds.
Tennessee (17-3, 4-3 SEC) held a four-point lead with under two minutes remaining, but Auburn (18-1, 6-0 SEC) rallied late. Senior guard Miles Kelly hit a crucial corner three-pointer with 28 seconds left to put the Tigers ahead 52-51. Freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford added a free throw with 12.7 seconds remaining, sealing the victory as Tennessee missed a last-second three-point attempt.
Both teams struggled offensively early, combining for a 1-of-21 shooting performance from beyond the arc in the first half. Auburn led 22-20 at halftime despite shooting just 21.9% from the field. Tennessee, which shot 28.0% in the opening frame, kept the game close by forcing turnovers and dominating the offensive boards.
The Volunteers surged ahead early in the second half with a 6-0 run, taking a 28-26 lead. However, Auburn responded with key baskets, including a go-ahead three-pointer by Kelly. Tennessee tied the game multiple times, including a clutch three-pointer by senior guard Jordan Gainey with 4:43 left. Fifth-year guard Chaz Lanier gave the Volunteers a 48-47 lead with a transition three-pointer, and Zeigler extended it to 50-47 with two free throws. But Auburn’s late-game execution proved decisive.
Auburn senior forward/center Johni Broome, returning from an ankle injury, dominated with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks. Despite his efforts, Tennessee held Auburn to season lows in points (53), field-goal percentage (31.0%), and three-point percentage (15.0%). The Tigers’ 53 points marked their lowest output since a 46-43 loss to Tennessee on February 4, 2023.
Tennessee’s defense stifled Auburn’s top-ranked offense, but the Volunteers’ own shooting struggles proved costly. They finished 3-of-22 from three-point range and missed their first 14 attempts from beyond the arc. Senior guard Jahmai Mashack contributed seven points and six rebounds, while junior forward Felix Okpara grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.
The Volunteers return to Knoxville for a three-game homestand, starting with a matchup against No. 9 Kentucky on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET, broadcast live on ESPN from Food City Center.
Key Notes:
– This marked the fifth AP top-six showdown in Tennessee history, with all five occurring away from home.
– Tennessee fell to 6-16 all-time against AP No. 1 teams, including a 2-2 record under head coach Rick Barnes.
– The Volunteers’ 46-game winning streak when leading with two minutes left came to an end.
– Auburn’s victory extended its home winning streak to 16 games, the longest active streak in the SEC.
