AUBURN, Ala. – Jan. 9 was a wakeup call for Auburn. It was the first game for the Tigers after an 11-day layoff and it was the Southeastern Conference opener at Ole Miss.
Things did not go according to plan as Auburn dropped an 82-67 decision. It was the lowest point total of the season for the Tigers, as well as the lowest shooting output (33 percent) for Auburn.
"I thought we were pretty thoroughly outplayed and outcoached," Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said. "We've got to make some adjustments."
The Tigers will look to avenge their defeat when they welcome the Rebels to Auburn Arena Wednesday night.
"We just need to focus on defense," added senior forward Horace Spencer. "Let that be our main focal point and be able to get defensive rebounds, offensive rebounds and second-chance points."
A major positive for Auburn? The Tigers have allowed just 61 points per game over their last three home games and have 27 wins inside their home arena since the start of last season.
"Ten of our last 13 SEC games have been sellouts," Pearl said. "There are seats available for Wednesday night – not just standing room, but some seats. I encourage our fans that haven't had a chance to see us play or don't come very often to come out tomorrow. It should be a beautiful day tomorrow and a real key matchup."
The game is set to tip at 7:30 p.m. CT. Rod Bramblett and Sonny Smith will have the radio call on 93.9 Tiger FM, online at AuburnTigers.com and on the TuneIn app. The game will also be televised on SEC Network with Mike Morgan and Barry Booker on the call.
Player to watch: Jared Harper
Coming off a 25-point, 8-assist showing at LSU last Saturday, Jared Harper is primed for another big performance vs. Ole Miss. The floor general is averaging 16.5 points and 5.7 assists per game during SEC play this season. Harper is also shooting 42 percent from downtown inside the confines of Auburn Arena with an average of 2.6 makes from deep at home.
Inside the series: Ole Miss
This is the 137th meeting between Auburn and Ole Miss with the Tigers holding a 75-61 series lead all-time. The two teams have not split a home-and-home season series since 2012 after splitting the series three times in a four-year span from 2009-2012. Ole Miss is the first team Auburn will play for a second time this season as the Rebels won the first meeting between the two teams 82-67 on Jan. 9 in Oxford.
The Tigers swept the season series last year. Prior to that, Ole Miss had won 10 straight over Auburn. Not only did Auburn snap the Rebels' 10-game winning streak in the series last year, but the Tigers' win in Oxford last season ended a seven-game skid in Oxford.
Balanced scoring
Auburn is second in the SEC and 16th nationally averaging 83.6 points per game because of a balanced attack that has seven Tigers averaging at least 7.0 points per game including Bryce Brown (16.7), Jared Harper (15.6), Chuma Okeke (10.6), Austin Wiley (9.6), Samir Doughty (8.1), Malik Dunbar (7.5) and Anfernee McLemore (7.2).
Six times this season Auburn has had at least five players score in double figures. Nine different Tigers have scored in double figures at least once this season. Auburn has topped the 80-point plateau in 14 of 23 games, plus AU has surpassed the 90-point mark seven times and has scored 100-plus twice. The Tigers are 12-2 when scoring at least 80 points. Auburn is on pace to be the second-highest scoring team in program history.
The Chuma Show
Chuma Okeke recorded his sixth career double-double, including third this season and two in the last four games, with 12 points and a career-high 14 rebounds at LSU. Okeke has scored in double figures in seven of the last eight games during which he has averaged 12.0 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.