Basketball season is back on the Plains. For the men, it came in dramatic fashion — a 95–90 overtime win over Bethune-Cookman that gave Steven Pearl his first career victory as head coach.
Let me be clear: it wasn’t pretty. Not the cleanest game you’ll ever see. But it was gritty, competitive, and exactly what you’d expect from a team with a lot of new pieces still figuring things out.
Bethune-Cookman, coached by former NBA player Reggie Theus, came in ready to play — shooting over 50% from the field and giving Auburn all it could handle. Defensively, Auburn had lapses, but they came up with stops when it mattered, especially late in regulation and overtime.
“I’m proud of how we responded late,” Pearl said. “Our guys stayed locked in and focused. In overtime, our guys did a great job of making plays. We made free throws when it counted.”
Watching it back, I saw exactly what I expected from a team this new — flashes of what they could be, mixed with reminders of how far they still have to go.
Let’s start with the good: Keyshawn Hall. The man was a beast. Hall led the Tigers with 28 points, going 16-of-18 from the free throw line. He’s a big guard who plays downhill, attacks through contact, and isn’t afraid to take on the physicality inside. I called him a “free throw merchant” on the show — not in a flopping sense, but because he earns trips to the line.
Hall’s offensive game is already SEC-ready, but he’s got to clean up the turnovers (four in this one) and make quicker reads when the double comes. He’s going to be the focal point of this offense — Auburn needs him to be a scorer and a playmaker.
Keyshawn Murphy was another bright spot — 17 points, eight boards, and four assists in 20 minutes. I liked his touch around the basket and his ability to facilitate from the high post. Auburn ran some of those flex actions they used to run for Jani Broome, and Murphy showed real vision as a passer. He and Hall have a chance to be a fun inside-out pairing.
And you can’t talk about this game without giving love to Kevin Overton, who made winning plays all night. His three steals in the final moments — two in regulation, one in overtime — completely changed the game’s momentum.
“The four steals were him going out and making plays,” said Pearl. “I’m proud of KO. He had a lot of step-up late.”
Overton added 13 points and was that defensive spark this team needed when things got tight.
Freshman Sebastian Williams-Adams also made his mark with 15 points, six rebounds, and a block. The energy and effort he brings are exactly what Pearl’s system demands. He was all over the glass, made smart decisions with the ball, and brought that blue-collar toughness that’s going to define Auburn’s identity this season.
This team still has plenty to fix — starting with the three-point shooting (just 6-of-23). Tahaad Pettiford went 2-of-9 from deep, and as I said in my postgame thoughts, that’s got to improve for Auburn to play the pace-and-space style they want. When you’re an undersized team, you can’t afford to miss open looks — or teams will just pack the paint and dare you to shoot.
Another concern is depth. Auburn played essentially a seven-man rotation. Bashir (10 mins) and Magwood (8 mins) didn’t provide much scoring punch, combining for zero points. They’ve got to develop into instant-offense options off the bench if Auburn’s going to survive the grind of SEC play.
Still, when Auburn locked in defensively, they showed flashes of what they can be. They forced 13 turnovers, grabbed 40 rebounds (15 offensive), and shot 20-of-22 from the line in the second half and overtime. That’s how you win close games.
“It’s good to learn from these games with a win instead of a loss,” Pearl said. “I’m thrilled we found a way to get the win, but my mind is immediately going to all the film I’m going to be watching tonight and trying to find ways to get better.”
For me, this was exactly the kind of game you want early in the season — challenging, messy, but revealing. Auburn’s new-look squad showed fight and toughness. When it came down to it, they defended, rebounded, and hit their free throws — the very things that win tight games in March.
Auburn (1–0) stays home this Thursday at 7 p.m. CT to face Merrimack on SEC Network+. Expect the Tigers to clean up some of those defensive rotations and look to get the offense flowing a little smoother in Game 2.
The Steven Pearl era is officially underway — and it’s already teaching us one thing: these Tigers are going to fight.
