After suffering a narrow defeat on the road, breaking their winning streak in Tuscaloosa, the Auburn basketball team is determined to return to the victory column as they progress through the middle portion of their SEC schedule.
Their upcoming challenge takes them to Starkville, Mississippi, where they face the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Auburn boasts a five-game winning streak in this series, with victories in their last two encounters at Humphrey Coliseum.
The Tigers, with a 16-3 (5-1) record, experienced a setback in a 79-75 loss to arch-rival Alabama in their previous game.
Despite a strong second-half comeback, turnovers and a lack of three-pointers proved detrimental to their success. On the other side, the Bulldogs, with a 13-6 (2-4) record, also seek redemption after a 79-70 loss to Florida.
Mississippi State, currently 11th in the SEC, is not unfamiliar with facing top-tier teams following a loss, having recently defeated No. 5 Tennessee.
Auburn’s coach, Bruce Pearl, anticipates a challenging environment in Starkville, acknowledging the Bulldogs as a seasoned team with postseason aspirations.
The Bulldogs struggled in their recent loss to Florida, shooting below average from both the field and beyond the arc. With an average of 74.7 points per game, Mississippi State relies on its defense, allowing an average of 66.4 points.
Pearl recognizes the Bulldogs as one of the best defensive teams in the league, emphasizing their ability to apply pressure on the ball and defend three-pointers effectively.
Auburn, known for its potent offense, averaging 83.3 points per game, faces the defensive challenge posed by Mississippi State.
The Bulldogs’ aggressive defense, with 8.4 steals per game, ranks third in the conference. Auburn’s strength lies in its defense, ranking second in the conference and 48th nationally, conceding only 66 points per game.
The matchup highlights the battle between standout centers, with Johni Broome for Auburn and Tolu Smith for Mississippi State.
Broome, ranking second in the SEC in both blocks and rebounds per game, adds a significant advantage to Auburn’s defensive prowess.
As the Tigers seek a rebound from their recent loss, they aim to leverage their lineup depth, a factor that posed challenges in their previous game.
The 147th meeting between the Tigers and Bulldogs is scheduled at Humphrey Coliseum, offering an intriguing clash on January 27 at 2:30 p.m. CST, broadcasted on the SEC Network.
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