Auburn clinched a thrilling 74-69 victory over No. 4 Houston on Saturday, marking head coach Bruce Pearl’s third win against an AP Poll top 5 team since joining the Tigers. The game was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading leads late in the second half.
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Auburn’s Johni Broome was dominant, leading with 20 points, 9 rebounds and 5 blocks, while freshman Tahaad Pettiford made his mark off the bench with 21 points, hitting 5-of-8 from beyond the arc. Houston countered with strong performances from Emanuel Sharp, who scored 13 points, and J’Wan Roberts, who added 12 points and 7 rebounds.
With less than two minutes remaining, Houston’s Sharp drilled a three-pointer to briefly reclaim the lead, but Auburn quickly responded with clutch free throws and a key defensive stop. Houston’s LJ Cryer went cold in the closing moments, missing critical shots as Auburn sealed the win.
The victory strengthens Auburn’s resume in early-season play, proving it can contend with top-ranked teams. For Houston, the loss highlights areas for improvement as it aims to solidify its standing in the Power 4 conferences.
