Miles Kelly, No. 1 Auburn Look to Stay Hot Against No. 22 Texas A&M

No. 1 Auburn has already locked up the SEC regular-season title, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be taking it easy when they visit No. 22 Texas A&M on Tuesday night in College Station.

The Tigers (27-2, 15-1 SEC) are rolling, fresh off a historic 94-78 road win at Kentucky, their first victory in Lexington in 37 years. Meanwhile, the Aggies (20-9, 9-7 SEC) are heading in the opposite direction, having lost four straight games after previously winning five in a row.

With Texas A&M fighting for SEC Tournament positioning and NCAA Tournament security, this game carries major stakes for the Aggies, while Auburn is simply looking to keep its momentum rolling into March Madness.

Miles Kelly’s Hot Hand Powers Auburn’s Latest Statement Win

While National Player of the Year candidate Johni Broome has been Auburn’s star all season, it was Miles Kelly who stole the show in Saturday’s blowout win at Kentucky.

The senior guard was scorching from deep, hitting a career-high nine three-pointers and scoring a season-high 30 points, single-handedly snapping Auburn’s 20-game losing streak at Rupp Arena.

“At shootaround, I fell in love with the rims,” Kelly said. “Everything I was putting up was going in. I knew I would get some looks early, and I knocked them down.”

Kelly has been a reliable third scoring option for the Tigers, now averaging 11.5 points per game behind Broome (18.4 PPG) and Chad Baker-Mazara (13.0 PPG). He leads Auburn in made threes (69) and three-point shooting percentage (41.1%), making him a major threat against Texas A&M’s shaky perimeter defense.

Auburn’s Depth Shows in Win Over Kentucky

Auburn’s win over Kentucky was even more impressive considering Broome had just nine points.

Instead, Baker-Mazara matched his season-high with 22 points, while freshman reserve Tahaad Pettiford erupted for 21 points off the bench.

With so many weapons, Auburn has proved it can win in different ways, and that versatility will be a huge advantage in the postseason.

Texas A&M Desperate to End Losing Streak

Texas A&M appeared to be peaking at the right time, winning five straight games, but a four-game skid has put them in a tough spot.

The latest setback came in an 89-70 blowout loss at No. 3 Florida, where the Aggies struggled in every phase:

• Shot just 39% from the field
• Had only three assists on 23 made baskets
• Outscored 42-15 from the three-point line

Those numbers don’t bode well against an Auburn team that just made 15 three-pointers in Rupp Arena.

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Can Wade Taylor IV Regain His Shooting Touch?

Texas A&M’s offense starts with Wade Taylor IV (15.1 PPG, 61 made threes), but his shooting slump has been a major issue.

Against Florida, he went just 1-for-7 from deep, continuing a trend of inefficiency from beyond the arc (32.4% on the season).

Head coach Buzz Williams remains confident in his star guard.

“I do think regardless of the opponent, he commands attention,” Williams said. “Some of it is because of his ability to score. Some of it is because in many respects, he makes good decisions that help our team.”

But if Taylor doesn’t find his shot, Texas A&M will have a hard time keeping pace with Auburn’s offense.

Key Matchups to Watch

Miles Kelly vs. Texas A&M’s Perimeter Defense – The Aggies just allowed Florida to bury them from three, and Kelly is red-hot. If he gets rolling early, it could be a long night for Texas A&M.

Johni Broome vs. A&M’s Interior Defense – The Aggies don’t have anyone who can match Broome’s size and skill inside, so expect Auburn to establish him early.

Wade Taylor IV vs. Auburn’s Defense – Taylor needs a bounce-back game to keep A&M competitive. If he struggles again, Auburn could run away with this one.

Who Has the Edge?

Auburn is the best team in the country for a reason. They have depth, shooting, defense, and momentum, while Texas A&M is struggling to find consistency at the worst possible time.

The Aggies badly need a win, but Auburn’s firepower might be too much for them to handle.

Will Auburn keep rolling toward a No. 1 seed, or can Texas A&M finally break its losing streak? Tuesday night’s game will go a long way in shaping the SEC Tournament picture.