Tahaad Pettiford is making a very strong case for SEC Newcomer of the Year. The freshman contributed a career-high 24 points in Auburn’s fifth-straight conference victory. The Tigers, who only escaped Athens with a two-point win, needed every single one of them.
Despite never trailing since the game was 2-0 in favor of Georgia, Auburn was never comfortable in front of a hostile Georgia crowed on Saturday afternoon. Other than Pettiford and some timely buckets from fellow guards Chad Baker-Mazara (13 points) and Miles Kelly (13 points), Auburn’s top ranked KenPom offense was not itself against a Bulldogs team that plays with one of the slowest paces in the entire country.
Even after jumping out to an early 24-8 lead in the first half, Bruce Pearl’s team needed a missed tip in by Georgia forward Asa Newell as the clock expired to put another tally in the win column. Auburn was outscored 60-46 after climbing out to the early 16-point lead mid-way through the first frame.
While Bruce Pearl’s team barely escaped a court storm in Athens, the Tigers again showed resiliency on the road without the contributions of National Player of the Year co-favorite Johni Broome. Broome’s absense was especially felt on Saturday with Dylan Cardwell dealing with cramps against the strong front court of UGA featuring the aforementioned star freshman Asa Newell (16 points, 10 rebounds).
With a week to rest before their biggest home game of the season against No. 6 ranked Tennessee on Saturday, Broome, Cardwell, and the rest of a tired Auburn roster will look to hang onto their No. 1 ranking a week from today.
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