The Tigers labored terribly in an 81-65 loss to the Florida Gators, as Auburn came away from Gainesville, Florida a loser for the fifteenth consecutive year. For the first time this season, the Tigers were defeated by a blowout, despite their goal going into the game to stop a 28-year losing streak at the O’Connell Center.
“There is a big prize on our head,” head coach Bruce Pearl stated. “With the math we did coming in, it was a significant win and a big number for Florida.”
The Tigers’ biggest loss of the season was 16 points; it was more than their six-point losses against Mississippi State and Baylor. The Gators’ lead increased to 29 points, and the only period of time during which there was no field goal was The Tigers’ biggest loss of the season was 16 points; it was more than their six-point losses against Mississippi State and Baylor. The Tigers were only able to draw within 16 points during a 9:40 field goal drought, while the Gators’ lead extended to as much as 29 points.
Pearl remarked, “I’m glad our guys kept playing.” And we succeeded in shutting it down. However, nobody takes pride in a 16-point defeat.
In every aspect of the game, the Tigers encountered difficulty. The Tigers shot just 24 of 57 that day, scoring only 65 points. Even though Auburn had a higher shooting percentage than the Gators, the Tigers were doomed by their inability to handle the ball, get to the foul line, and make 3-pointers.
Pearl remarked, “Florida’s defense was really good; their length really bothered us.” “Our execution was not very good.”
Auburn made only three of its seventeen attempts from beyond the arc, registering a pitiful 17.6% 3-point shooting percentage. The Tigers shot only 14 of 26 free throws (53.8%) against the Gators, a decrease from their school-record 40 foul shots against Alabama. After just five plays, the Tigers turned the ball over fifteen times.
With 14 points in the contest, Johni Broome led the Tigers and matched for the second-lowest total this season among Auburn’s top scorers. The combination of Jaylin Williams and Johni Broome was kept to just 20 points in just two games, after they had combined for 51 points. Williams had scored a career-high 26 points against Alabama, but he only managed to score six points on 3-of-10 shooting.
Denver Jones (10 points) and K.D. Johnson (12 points) joined Broome in double figures. Only one other Tiger scored more than six points, Chaney Johnson with nine. It was the third fewest points Auburn has scored in a game this year; the Tigers’ previous lowest scoring totals were 58 against Mississippi State and 64 against Appalachian State. The low-scoring match followed
