No. 1 Auburn Faces LSU After Close Victories Streak

Auburn has experienced several nail-biters recently, but the Tigers continue to demonstrate why they are the unanimous No. 1 team in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. Heading into Wednesday’s Southeastern Conference matchup against LSU in Baton Rouge, La., Auburn boasts an 11-game winning streak.

Auburn’s Resilience in Tight Games

The Tigers (18-1, 6-0 SEC) recently showcased their grit with a thrilling 53-51 comeback victory over then-No. 6 Tennessee on Saturday. Auburn scored the final six points to secure the win.

“We can play better, and we were still able to beat a great team,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. “We’ve won four of the last six games in the last possession. It’s going to be a battle every night.”

Auburn’s road performances have also been close contests. The Tigers edged Georgia by two points, South Carolina by three, and Texas by five in their past three away games. Star forward Johni Broome, who missed two games due to an ankle injury, returned against Tennessee and delivered a dominant performance with 16 points, 14 rebounds, and four blocks.

Broome also assisted on a pivotal 3-pointer by Miles Kelly, which gave Auburn the lead for good with 30 seconds remaining.

“All he cared about was winning,” Pearl said, commending Broome’s leadership and dedication to recovery. “As a leader, it’s another statement.”

While Auburn continues to find ways to win, Pearl emphasized the need for further improvement. “The big key is you can’t get too high or too low,” he said. “We’ve got to get better. The book is out on everybody. What’s Plan B? What’s Plan C? We’ve got to come up with it.”

LSU Seeks Breakthrough Against Tough Competition

LSU (12-7, 1-5 SEC) enters the game near the bottom of the SEC standings but is coming off an encouraging performance in a competitive 80-73 loss to then-No. 4 Alabama on Saturday.

“Disappointed with the result, but I definitely think we got better as a team,” LSU coach Matt McMahon said. “I loved the physicality that we played with in the first half.”

LSU forward Corey Chest delivered an exceptional rebounding effort, grabbing 15 of his 18 boards in the first half alone. “That’s as good a rebounding performance I’ve seen in a half of basketball,” McMahon said.

However, LSU faltered offensively in the second half, going 1-for-11 from 3-point range and finishing 3-for-23 overall from beyond the arc.

Despite the loss, McMahon praised his team’s improved ball security. LSU, which averages 4.2 more turnovers per game than its SEC opponents, matched Alabama’s 14 turnovers and capitalized with a 17-11 edge in points off turnovers.

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What’s at Stake

Auburn looks to maintain its dominance atop the SEC and further cement its position as the nation’s top team, while LSU aims to capitalize on its recent improvements and pull off a signature win. With both teams showing flashes of resilience, the clash promises to be another intense SEC showdown.