Houston Cougars vs Auburn Tigers | 2024.11.9 | NCAAB Game

Auburn's Thrilling Comeback Victory Over Houston! 🐯🏀

The Auburn Tigers showed resilience and heart as they stormed back to defeat No. 4 Houston with a nail-biting 74-69 victory at the Toyota Center. An estimated 2,500 Auburn fans filled the arena, roaring as the Tigers clawed their way back in the second half. Led by freshman sensation Tahaad Pettiford and senior leader Johni Broome, Auburn overcame a halftime deficit, outscoring Houston 46-36 in the final 20 minutes and making 7 of their last 8 shots to pull off this epic win! 🎉

Head Coach Bruce Pearl summed it up perfectly: "That’s Auburn being Auburn." The fans' chant, “It’s Great to be an Auburn Tiger,” filled the air as the final seconds ticked away, celebrating a historic victory on the road.

Key Performances:

Tahaad Pettiford 🌟: In only his second college game, Pettiford shone bright, leading all scorers with 21 points, hitting 5 of 8 three-pointers. He played flawlessly, committing zero turnovers in 24 minutes, stepping up when Auburn needed him most. "This is what we worked for all week,” Pettiford said. “Coach always tells us to be ready when your time comes, and tonight was my time.”
Johni Broome 💪: Broome was a powerhouse in the paint, connecting on an incredible 10 of 11 shots to score 20 points and grabbing 9 rebounds. He and Pettiford combined for a scorching 31 second-half points, helping Auburn claw back into the lead.
Chaney Johnson 📈: Johnson was vital on the boards, recording a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. His presence added strength to Auburn’s rebounding efforts, especially in the second half.
Game Highlights: Trailing 33-28 at halftime, Auburn started the second half with a steal from JJ Pegues that set up Broome for a quick bucket. Houston initially extended their lead to nine, but Auburn went on an 8-0 run powered by Pettiford’s jumper to cut the deficit. Pettiford and Chad Baker-Mazara hit clutch 3-pointers to give Auburn a 57-56 lead with just over five minutes remaining.

The final minutes were electric, with the lead changing multiple times. Pettiford’s fifth 3-pointer at the 4:14 mark gave Auburn a 62-60 advantage, and Broome extended Auburn’s lead with timely layups. Houston fought back, reclaiming the lead with just over two minutes left, but Baker-Mazara's jumper at 1:50 put Auburn up for good. Auburn sealed the win with 6-for-6 free throws in the last minute, finishing strong under pressure.

Game Stats & Analysis:

Auburn’s Second-Half Surge 💥: Auburn came alive in the second half, reversing their early shooting struggles and hitting critical shots down the stretch.
Rebounding Battle 🏀: After being outrebounded in the first half, Auburn evened the rebounding stats in the second half (33-33 total) with crucial boards from Johnson and Broome.
Turnover Troubles 🚨: Auburn overcame eight first-half turnovers, which had given Houston a significant edge. Their ability to limit turnovers in the second half was key to securing the win.
Post-Game Thoughts:
“This was a team effort. Johni was unstoppable, and Tahaad stepped up big,” Coach Pearl said. “Our competitiveness shone through, and I couldn’t be prouder of the guys. This is going to be one happy ride home.” 🎉

Auburn (2-0) now looks to continue their winning momentum as they return home to face Kent State on Wednesday at 7 p.m. CT on the SEC Network/ESPN+.

Hashtags:
#AuburnBasketball 🐯 #BigWin #CollegeHoops #BasketballHighlights 🏀 #SEC #AuburnVictory #BasketballRecap 🎥 #TigerPride 💪 #KingOfTheCourtz