Feb. 17, 2018
By Greg Ostendorf
AuburnTigers.com
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- No. 10 Auburn played an inspired second half on the road at South Carolina, cutting a 26-point lead all the way down to five at one point, but it wasn't enough as the Tigers simply ran out of gas and bodies in an 84-75 loss.
What made the comeback even more incredible is that Auburn did it without starting center Anfernee McLemore, who fractured and dislocated his left ankle late in the first half.
"I was very proud of the way the kids battled back," Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said after the game. "They showed a lot of heart, a lot of character.
"Anfernee is a huge part of this team and this family. He is one of the most unique athletes in college basketball. He's a 6-foot-7, shot-blocking, 3-point-shooting warrior. Our thoughts and our prayers are with him. The injury was gruesome and we do not have him for the rest of the season. But I promise you, Anfernee McLemore will not be held down. He will be back."
McLemore will fly back with the team Saturday night and is expected to have surgery on his ankle Sunday morning.
With McLemore out, both Horace Spencer and Chuma Okeke stepped up in his place during the second half. Spencer's effort and energy got Auburn going early, and then when he got into foul trouble, it was freshman Chuma Okeke who played most of the way down the stretch and finished with nine points and nine rebounds in the final 20 minutes.
As a team, Auburn grabbed 15 offensive rebounds in the second half and outrebounded the Gamecocks, 30-17, after halftime.
"We were down big on the boards in the first half, and we wound up winning by six," Pearl said. "It's because they're relentless. They're resilient."
Okeke (11) was one of four Auburn players to score in double figures. Mustapha Heron led the way with 16 points while Jared Harper added 13, and Bryce Brown, despite not playing at 100 percent, finished with 10. At one point, Brown had to ice his shoulder in the second half. He was also nursing a bruised foot that kept him out of practice Thursday and Friday.
The Tigers struggled from beyond the arc Saturday (5 of 27), but they made 30 of their 38 free-throw attempts, including 18 of 22 in the second half.
Auburn (23-3, 11-3) will return home for a rematch against Alabama on Wednesday.
"For us, it's been next man up," Pearl said. "Now we're down to eight scholarship guys. We'll find a way."
Greg Ostendorf is a Senior Writer for AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @greg_ostendorf