Texas A&M Stuns No. 1 Auburn in Historic Upset Victory
College Station, Texas – Auburn’s reign at the top of the AP rankings came to an abrupt halt Tuesday night as No. 22 Texas A&M delivered a dominant 83-72 win, marking the Aggies’ first-ever victory over a No. 1-ranked team.
Head coach Bruce Pearl didn’t mince words after Auburn’s defeat.
“They completely overpowered us,” Pearl said. “Physically, they controlled the game.”
Texas A&M’s Statement Win
From the opening tip-off, Texas A&M took control and never relinquished the lead. The Aggies snapped a four-game losing streak in style while also ending Auburn’s six-game winning streak. Auburn had just secured the Southeastern Conference (SEC) title with a win over Kentucky on Saturday, but Texas A&M proved too strong on this night.
Despite holding the top spot in the AP Poll for eight consecutive weeks and earning a unanimous No. 1 ranking for a second straight week, the Tigers faltered under the Aggies’ relentless pressure.
Pearl dismissed the idea that Auburn overlooked Texas A&M after clinching the SEC title. Instead, he credited the Aggies for simply outplaying them.
“They physically dominated us,” Pearl reiterated. “If we expect to keep winning, we have to be prepared for teams like Texas A&M, Florida, or Duke that bring that level of physicality.”
Aggies’ Rebounding Edge Proves Decisive
Auburn’s struggles were evident on the boards, where Texas A&M dominated with a staggering 24-9 offensive rebounding advantage. The Aggies entered the game as the nation’s top offensive rebounding team, and they made sure to reinforce that reputation.
“We have no excuse for allowing them to grab 24 offensive rebounds,” Pearl admitted. “Credit to Texas A&M. They outmuscled us, plain and simple. We should be better than that, but we weren’t tonight.”
For Texas A&M head coach Buzz Williams, his team’s physicality and teamwork were the defining factors in the victory.
“We have to play with incredible physicality,” Williams said. “It’s not always about what shows up on the stat sheet, but the effort, the communication, and the hustle plays.”
Auburn’s Offensive Struggles and Key Injuries
The Tigers also struggled offensively, particularly star player Johni Broome, who had been averaging 18.4 points per game. On this night, he managed just eight points, marking his second straight game in single digits. Broome briefly exited in the first half with an apparent shoulder injury but returned to play 32 minutes.
“He’s been dealing with a shoulder issue since December,” Pearl said. “It got banged up again, and it was clearly bothering him. But he fought through it.”
Adding to Auburn’s woes was the absence of standout defender Denver Jones, who sat out with an ankle injury.
“Denver’s our best one-on-one defender,” Pearl noted. “Not having him was a big factor tonight.”
A Special Night for Texas A&M’s Seniors
The significance of the win was amplified as it took place on Senior Night at Reed Arena. Senior guard Wade Taylor IV, who contributed 16 points, reflected on how much the victory meant to the program and his teammates.
“The guys on the court have been here since Day 1,” Taylor said. “We helped build this program into what it is today. To get this win on Senior Night, for our last time playing on this court, it means everything.”
Looking Ahead
Texas A&M will look to build on this monumental win as they enter the final stretch of the regular season, while Auburn aims to bounce back and reinforce its claim as one of the nation’s elite teams heading into March Madness.
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