Auburn fought hard in the ACC/SEC Challenge, but the Tigers came up just short in an overtime loss to Syracuse, 66-60, Wednesday night. Auburn (8-2) clawed back in the second half to force extra time, but turnovers and rebounding struggles ultimately cost them a win against a physical Orange team.
The Tigers struggled to take care of the basketball all night, committing a season-high 27 turnovers, which translated directly into 27 points for Syracuse. On top of that, the Orange dominated the glass, grabbing 16 offensive rebounds and converting them into second-chance points that proved crucial in the overtime period.
Despite the setbacks, Auburn’s effort was admirable. Harissoum Coulibaly led the Tigers with 17 points, while Kaitlyn Duhon added 15 points and six steals. Mya Petticord and A’riel Jackson contributed nine points each. Auburn shot 42% from the floor, slightly better than Syracuse’s 35%, and held the Orange without a three-pointer all game. However, Syracuse made 22-of-27 free throws, compared to Auburn’s 11-of-15, highlighting the difference in execution in crucial moments.
Auburn had chances to win in regulation. Coulibaly’s floater with 14.3 seconds left gave the Tigers a 52-51 lead, but Syracuse tied it with a free throw. A last-second attempt by Coulibaly at the buzzer fell short, sending the game to overtime. Early in OT, Petticord hit two free throws to give Auburn a 54-52 advantage, but the Orange responded with a three-point play by Laila Phelia to take control. Auburn got within one on a Petticord jumper with 51 seconds left but could not convert on the final possessions.
Coach Larry Vickers emphasized the lessons learned from the game. “We’re not going to grow overnight, so we’ve got to do a better job staying disciplined with our box-outs,” Vickers said. “Offensive rebounds and turnovers lost us this game tonight. They had 16 offensive rebounds. We knew coming in that we wouldn’t win if they got 16, and they got 16. Twenty-seven turnovers is too many turnovers to beat a good team. That used to be one of our strengths, but it has recently become one of our weaknesses. We’ve just got to work on it and get better.”
Auburn’s young roster is still finding its identity. Duhon and Soraya Daniels are the only returners, with Soraya logging limited minutes. The team is still figuring out rotations, especially with the anticipated return of Montague, whose presence could provide much-needed toughness in the paint and help balance the minutes among the frontcourt players.
The Tigers’ next test comes Sunday, Dec. 14, when they travel to South Orange, New Jersey, to take on Seton Hall. Auburn will look to cut down on turnovers, control the glass, and start building consistency as they continue to gel as a team.
Key Stats:
- Auburn turnovers: 27 (Syracuse points off turnovers: 27)
- Offensive rebounds: Syracuse 16 (16 points), Auburn 10
- Field goal percentage: Auburn 42%, Syracuse 35%
- Free throws: Auburn 11-of-15, Syracuse 22-of-27
- Leading scorers: Harissoum Coulibaly 17, Kaitlyn Duhon 15, Mya Petticord 9, A’riel Jackson 9
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