[autotag]Tahaad Pettiford[/autotag] is making a very strong case for SEC Newcomer of the Year. The freshman contributed a career-high 24 points in Auburn’s fifth-straight conference victory. The Tigers, who only escaped Athens with a two-point win, needed every single one of them.
Despite never trailing since the game was 2-0 in favor the Georgia, Auburn was never comfortable in front of a hostile Georgia crowed on Saturday afternoon. Other than Pettiford and some timely buckets from fellow guards [autotag]Chad Baker-Mazar[/autotag]a (13 points) and [autotag]Miles Kelly[/autotag] (13 points), Auburn’s top ranked KenPom offense was not itself against a Bulldogs team that plays with one of the slowest paces in the entire country.
Even after jumping out to an early 24-8 lead in the first half, Bruce Pearl’s team needed a missed tip in by Georgia forward Asa Newell as the clock expired to put another tally in the win column. Auburn was outscored 60-46 after climbing out to the early 16-point lead mid-way through the first frame.
While Bruce Pearl’s team barely escaped a court storm in Athens, the Tigers again showed resiliency on the road without the contributions of National Player of the Year co-favorite [autotag]Johni Broome[/autotag]. Broome’s absense was especially felt on Saturday with [autotag]Dylan Cardwell[/autotag] dealing with cramps against the strong front court of UGA featuring the aforementioned star freshman Asa Newell (16 points, 10 rebounds).
With a week to rest before their biggest home game of the season against No. 6 ranked Tennessee on Saturday, Broome, Cardwell, and the rest of a tired Auburn roster will look to hang onto their No. 1 ranking a week from today.
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