Jan. 18, 2018
By Jeff Shearer
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. - Trailing by 10 with fewer than 4 minutes to play, No. 17 Auburn had a chance to tie in the final seconds before losing 76-71 to Alabama Wednesday at Coleman Coliseum.
Malik Dunbar's 3-pointer trimmed the lead to single digits. Bryce Brown's 3 made it a 2-point game at 73-71. After an Alabama free throw, the Tigers committed a turnover negating a chance to launch a potential game-tying shot at the buzzer.
"They made the plays they needed to make to win the game and we didn't," Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said.
The Tigers will look to even the season series against their in-state rival when Alabama comes to Auburn Arena on Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m. CT.
Here are three takeaways from Auburn's first defeat since Nov. 17, 2017.
Quick reset
Because of icy roads, Auburn remained in Tuscaloosa after the game, returning to Auburn Thursday morning in time for the resumption of classes at 12:30 p.m.
"We can't allow this setback to stay with us very long," Pearl said. "We've got a short turnaround against a pretty good Georgia team."
Auburn (16-2, 4-1) hosts Georgia (12-5, 3-3) Saturday at 5 p.m. CT.
"It's one game at a time, one matchup at a time," Pearl said. "We've got to find a way to have a little bit more energy out there on the floor."
Desean's double-double
With 11 points and a game-high 10 rebounds, Desean Murray record his team-leading third double-double, Auburn's first in SEC play.
Despite his clutch shots down the stretch and consistent rebounding, Murray modeled accountability in his postgame comments to reporters.
"We should have come out more than ready," Murray said. "Being a leader on this team, I didn't play well. I've got to do better."
The Streak
For two months, the Tigers were unbeatable, assembling 14 consecutive victories, the nation's longest streak.
Beginning on Nov. 19 against Hofstra in Charleston, South Carolina, continuing at Dayton, at Murray State, home against UConn and through the first four SEC games, Auburn compiled W after W.
"We're in conference play now, and we're playing better and better teams," Pearl said. "I've got to step up. We've got to step up."
"A short turnaround.... one matchup at a time."@coachbrucepearl on end of @AuburnMBB 14-game win streak.
AU home Saturday vs. UGA at 5 p.m. pic.twitter.com/n8F1oO7gRs- Jeff Shearer (@jeff_shearer) January 18, 2018
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @jeff_shearer